EXBS: MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/INDONESIA/PHILIPPINES ADVISOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000008 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 00000008 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. SUMMARY: (U) This cable covers the period 1-31 Dec 09. - Contraband Team Detection Kits (CT-30) arrive in MY. - Advisor meets with and fields CNBR training requests from Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). - Invitation to MFA to participate in "Commodities Identification Workshop" reiterated twice in December. - Meeting held with CSI, USCG and USN DAO. - FSN-MY Hiring Resume Reviews begin. - DOS/EXBS representation for at DOJ-Singapore Customs "Pro Workshop for Prosecutors and Investigators in Singapore December 15-17." - Philippine Senate Bill 6268 known as "Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation and Strategic and Dual-Use Goods and Items Regulation Act of 2009" in hearings. - Advisor completes familiarization and orientation meeting in the Philippines. ¶2. (U) Accomplishments: MALAYSIA - Contraband Team Detection Kits (CT-30) arrived in KL. Royal Malaysian Customs tentatively identified as the End User. CT-30 Kits to remain on station until the appropriate training opportunity planned for summer 2010. Customs Clearance fees were not waive-able and were paid from EXBS operating budget. - Advisor and Regional CT Advisor, Greg Chapman met with 10 senior members of the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency on 8 December. Regarding EXBS' offer of transferring hand held radiation pagers and Contraband Detection equipment to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA); MMEA strongly desires training in Chemical Biologic, Nuclear, Radioactive (CBNR) management BEFORE deciding on the type of equipment they would like to obtain from EXBS. MMEA's RADM Noor Aziz emphasized that the MMEA currently has very limited capabilities in this area, and any training we provide them ideally would be comprehensive in nature vice one or two courses with CNBR treated as an add on. This request was discussed in detail with EXBS Desk. Outcomes: - After discussions involving USCG and EXBS desk, MMEA's request for CNBR training *before* MMEA selects interdiction equipment; regrettably, cannot be accommodated. -EXBS' offer to provide MMEA portable detection and interdiction equipment (CT-30 Kits, Hand Held Radiation Pager's, etc) is still being tendered and we will encourage MMEA to make a selection before we have to remove the offer (by fiscal year limitations - Sep 2010). Recommend to have a specialist demonstrate use of this equipment or at the minimum provide a training DVD with deployment scenarios. (NOTE: EXBS received feedback from the Philippine Coast Guard to provide training on the equipment at time of delivery. End Note) - In most cases US Gov't is not sufficiently nimble to obtain the long string of approvals necessary to accommodate "outside of mainstream" training requests such as this request for CNBR training without a year-plus lead time. Recommend this topic be explored for improvement opportunities at next Advisor's conference. - Charles Caruolo, US Coast Guard's Training Coordination Officer for Asia Pacific and Shewit Habtemichael, USCG-EXBS International Affairs Liaison has been made aware of MMEA's request and advisor has requested that USCG provide guidance for a response on subject matter availability for various USCG course offerings available to the MMEA. - Two follow on emails were sent to MFA's Mr. Shazryll Zahiran (Copy to Undersecretary for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Mr. Bala Chandran Tharman) urging MFA to act on DCM's November 09 formal invitation to MFA to participate in a proposed "Commodities Identification Workshop". These emails followed multiple unanswered phone calls and phone messages to the above mentioned gentlemen. - Advisor met with Andrew Wessner (Container Security Initiative Representative),LT Eric Stahl, (USCG International Port Security Liaison Officer for Malaysia) and Capt Clay Grindle (US Navy Defense Attach Officer-Malaysia). Capt Grindle is acting USCG liaison during periods of absence of USCG in-country presence. Meeting enabled members who were engaged in similar areas familiarize themselves with each other's work. Meeting generated options for further MMEA-USG exchange. KUALA LUMP 00000008 002.2 OF 003 - FSN (EXBS) Hiring Advertisements resulted in 80 applicants. Resume packages being thoroughly reviewed throughout Dec. Due to holidays, short listed individuals' interviews to occur in January. Because many Malaysian companies pay their employee's annual bonus in February, it may be up to 2 months before we bring our FSN on board once they are selected in order that they collect their bonus from their present employer. SINGAPORE - Regional advisor and Singapore's AmEmb EXBS representative Elizabeth Crosson and LEGATT Julio Quinones attended a joint DOJ-Singapore Customs "Non-Pro Workshop for Prosecutors and Investigators" in Singapore December 15-17". Information exchange included presentations by members of Singapore's Customs, Attorney Generals Chambers and USG's ICE, FBI and DOJ. Approximately 60 Singapore officials participated over the course of the workshop, including representatives from: Singapore Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Defense Science and Technology Agency, and the Attorney General's Chambers. - Singapore in-country EXBS liaison, Elizabeth Crosson will transfer from Singapore on 8 Jan 2010. Ulla Saleh will cover the 4 month gap period until the in-country replacement arrives on station. PHILLIPPINES - Updates on the legislation: House Bill 6268 known as the "Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation and Strategic and Dual-Use Goods and Items Regulation Act of 2009" was passed in the lower house of the Philippine Congress November 18, 2009. The same bill, referred to as "Senate Bill 3268" had its first Senate hearing Dec. 16th. Objective is to push passage of the upper house version of the bill before the coming Philippine election in May 2010. If this bill is not passed before the election, the process will need to be re-started from the beginning. Note that the individual who is vigorously championing this legislation (Ambassador Fianza) is a politically appointed individual. It is possible his appointment may not be renewed if there is a change of administration after the May 2010 elections. - EXBS Advisor visited Manila and Cebu, Philippines from December 1 - 4, 2009. Courtesy calls were made to DCM Leslie Bassett and Economic Counselor Brian Doherty and met with other relevant embassy officials such as representatives from the DOE, JUSMAG, ATA, ICE, DOJ, TSA and PAS. Advisor, together with Manila based EXBS personnel, Ms. Gigi Coffin and FSN Sol Ogatis, met with the members of the technical working group on the proposed legislation. Visits and meetings were made to the Philippine Bureau of Customs, Coastguard and Philippine Ports Authority. Ports Authority recently received equipment donation from EXBS. Issues regarding use and deployment of the equipment were raised during the meetings. Advisor and EXBS FSN traveled to Cebu City to introduce EXBS advisor and provide program updates to the officers of the Cebu Port Authority and the District VII of the Bureau of Customs. Important note: Cebu Port Authority is autonomous from the Philippine Port Authority. Advisor was not able to research the background on this odd anomaly. Indonesia No input this month. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶3. (U) "Non-Pro Workshop for Prosecutors and Investigators" in Singapore December 15-17". IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶4. (U) EXBS Program, DHS/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection are preparing to conduct a five day INTERNATIONAL SEAPORT INTERDICTION TRAINING (ISIT) in Jakarta 22 - 27 February 2010. Jakarta based EXBS Officer, CDR Curtis Shaw is POC. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶5. (U) None. ¶6. (U) Point of Contact is Michael McNamara, Regional EXBS Advisor (IN MY, SG, RP),email: mcnamaramf2@state.gov; +60-3-2168-4861. KUALA LUMP 00000008 003.2 OF 003 KEITH