EXBS: MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/INDONESIA/PHILIPPINES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000654 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL MY SUBJECT: EXBS: MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/INDONESIA/PHILIPPINES ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - KUALA LUMP 00000654 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor visited Singapore July 29-31, 2009 to attend ASCOT (Analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfer) training provided to Singapore Customs and meet with US. Embassy representatives concerning the way forward on EXBS matters. Advisor attended a meeting in Malaysia with Department of Energy (DOE) Megaports Program staff and Econoff on August 4, 2009 and accompanied DOE Megaports Program staff to a meeting with Royal Malaysian Customs on August 5, 2009. SITE ASSESSMENTS/MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Singapore Customs officials and the ASCOT trainers, joined by EXBS Advisor and U.S. Embassy Singapore Econoff, met at the conclusion of the ASCOT workshop (Ref. paragraph 3) to share feedback on the workshop materials and discuss next steps for the development of Singapore's domestic commodity identification (CIT) program. Singapore Customs stated that the ASCOT workshop case studies and supporting materials were helpful in their efforts to ensure that licensing officers have the latest tools and technical expertise to analyze and make decisions regarding license applications. Singapore Customs said that since they have been granted access by DOE, they do use the "E-Room" and "ECIT" tools. Singapore Customs further noted that although the enforcement and licensing functions have been separated into two branches within Customs, communication between the two sides is good. Customs also indicated that they are developing a handbook for licensing and commodity identification that they can later evolve into the basis for a domestic CIT program and ECIT platform. DOE may work with Singapore Customs to implement a customized ECIT search-engine that could be housed using a DOE servicer in the United States or on a local server. Singapore Customs expressed a preference for having an ECIT system onshore in Singapore, but must assess its needs and whether it can provide the subject matter expertise and IT support required to manage and continually update a locally based ECIT database. DOE offered assistance in this endeavor. Advisor met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) representative from the U.S. Embassy, Singapore on July 30, 2009 to discuss possibilities for coordinating and partnering in training efforts for law enforcement and Customs officers in Singapore and Malaysia. Some thought was given to inviting law enforcement officers to an upcoming event with DOE and ICE but after discussion it was agreed that timing on the event was such that involvement of officers from other countries was not appropriate for the planned event. Both ICE and Advisor agreed to maintain contact and dialogue concerning joint opportunities. Advisor also met with Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Singapore to express appreciation for all of the support and assistance offered to the EXBS Program throughout the past year. During the discussion both Advisor and Econoff noted that consideration for regional training opportunities might be appropriate in planning for ongoing engagement. Enconoff advised that Department of Commerce has plans for establishing an Export Control Officer position in Singapore. Advisor met with Economic Counselor, Econoff, and representatives from DOE Megaports Initiative Program on Tuesday, August 5, 2009 at the U.S. Embassy, Kuala Lumpur. DOE personnel provided a status report on the installation of the radiation detection equipment at Port Klang Westport and Northport terminals. DOE further advised that they intended to propose to Royal Malaysian Customs that the program be expanded to additional locations. The Megaports Initiative Program Officer stated he would also propose to GOM officials that they consider hosting regional training for the Megaports program at their training facility in Malacca. DOE personnel invited embassy staff to attend a meeting with Royal Malaysian Customs the following day. Advisor accompanied DOE staff to a meeting at Royal Malaysian Customs offices in Putrajaya on Wednesday, August 6, 2009. The meeting, chaired by Dato Ibrahim Bin H.J. Jappar of Royal Malaysian Customs was well attended by Royal Malaysian Customs managers from various locations as well as a representative from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board. DOE KUALA LUMP 00000654 002.2 OF 002 contractors gave a pictorial presentation of progress on detection equipment installation. Dato Ibrahim expressed concerns about assuring all personnel working in the vicinity of the equipment of its safety which AELB and customs managers responded to by reporting on their plans for training and distribution of written information on how the systems work. (NOTE: The radiation detection systems are passive and emit no radiation.) DOE staff proposed that there be further discussions concerning the expansion of the Megaports Initiative Program to additional locations and that consideration be given to GOM using its training facility in Malacca as a regional training center for the Megaports program. Royal Malaysian customs officials responded favorably. There was also positive reaction to the idea of a ribbon cutting ceremony when the systems have been fully installed and tested; possibly in early November. Royal Malaysian Customs officials commented that they will need to do a lot of training which DOE indicated it was prepared to provide. Advisor noted that since the radiological screening will be done on export containers, if there is additional training needed that falls outside the scope of that which is offered by DOE, EXBS could provide training in the area of container examination and targeting. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶3. (U) An analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfers (ASCOT) Workshop was presented by National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the Department of Energy (DOE) in Singapore July 29-31, 2009. Fifty-two participants representing Singapore Customs, Ministry of Defense; National Environment Agency; Singapore Police Force; Immigration and Checkpoints Authority; Economic Development Board; and the Agency for Science, Technology & Research attended the session. The workshop covered: nuclear weapons overview; missile technology overview; electronics for nuclear and missile applications; structural materials; industrial equipment for nuclear and missile applications; biological weapons and industrial equipment; chemical weapons overview; chemical weapons precursors; and, at the specific request of Singapore Customs, the workshop included catch-all controls. In addition to technical information, case studies and exercises were used to help participants apply information to real work scenarios. Attendees were proactive during the workshop and participants' evaluations of the workshop were positive. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶4. (U) None. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶5. (U) Work at the US. Embassy Kuala Lumpur is progressing on providing work space for a locally hired employee to provide additional assistance to the program. EXBS contributed to the costs of the build out and will be able to initiate the process of hiring an FSN in the very near future. Advisor has scheduled a meeting with human resources personnel on August 11, 2009 to prepare for the hiring process. KEITH