EXBS: MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/INDONESIA/PHILIPPINES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000746 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 00000746 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor met with Human Resources staff and prepared documents for initiating the hiring process for an EXBS Program Management Assistant position and completed transition documentation in preparation for new EXBS Advisor. Advisor conducted telephone meeting with Political/Economic Counselor from the British High Commission on September 2, ¶2009. An invitation was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) concerning attendance by three representatives from the Government of Malaysia (GOM) to the fall session of the University of Georgia, Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) Academy in Athens, GA. SITE ASSESSMENTS/MEETINGS ¶2. (U) On August 12, 2009 Advisor met with embassy Human Resources staff concerning initiation of the process for hiring an EXBS Program Management Assistant. Following the meeting, Advisor prepared a position description and Computer Aided Job Evaluation (CAJE) for the proposed position. Embassy human resources staff forwarded the documents to the service center in Bangkok, Thailand. Upon completion of the position evaluation and approval by the service center (estimated to take about six weeks) a vacancy announcement can be issued. In addition to preparing for the EXBS Program Management Assistant position, Advisor has reviewed and synopsized all office files to assist new EXBS Advisor who will arrive at post on September 23, 2009. On September 2, 2009 Advisor held a lengthy telephone meeting with James Paver, Head of Political, Economic and Public Diplomacy Section of the British High Commission concerning GOM progress on strategic trade control legislation. Paver noted the he had recently met with MFA and came away with the opinion that there is no activity currently taking place within GOM to advance a law dealing with export controls. Paver said movement toward enactment of legislation would require endorsement and follow up by the highest levels of management within the GOM. Paver also noted that the GOM is seriously pursuing civil nuclear technology development and that perhaps the linking of that effort with the essential need for a strategic control system could be an approach for continuing to urge the GOM to move forward with legislation. Paver was of the opinion that the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board recognizes the need for a strategic control system but does not have the political strength within the GOM to push the effort forward. Paver, as in past meetings, expressed his willingness to remain in contact with the EXBS Advisor and to work in concert, where possible, on efforts to encourage the GOM to adopt legislation. Paver also advised that a British Customs officer would be arriving at the British High Commission within the next month or two for a long term assignment and would be involved in the issue of export controls. Advisor informed Paver of her planned departure from Malaysia within the next few weeks, provided him the name of the new EXBS Advisor, and assured him that his contact information would be passed along to her successor. On September 3, 2009 a letter from the Deputy Chief of Mission was sent to Ambassador Zainol Abidin Omar, Deputy Secretary General II of the Ministry of Foreign affairs extending an invitation for three officials from the GOM to attend the University of Georgia's Center for International Trade and Security (UGA-CITS) Export Control Academy in Athens, GA. The academy session will take place October 26 - November 6, 2009. Advisor also provided an informational copy of the invitation letter to Shazryll Zahirin of the Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Division of the MFA. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶3. (U) None. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶4. (U) None. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶5. (U) None. KUALA LUMP 00000746 002.2 OF 002 KEITH