VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKL #1862 2770730
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040730Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7673
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 1540
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 4039
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2180
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 2338
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001862 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/ATA, EAP/MTS, S/CT 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PREL MARR MY
SUBJECT: Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) Initial Team 
Visit to Kuala Lumpur - September 21 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  A U.S. team held initial consultations on 
September 21 with nine Malaysian government maritime security 
agencies as a first step in the Border Control Assessment Initiative 
(BCAI) in Malaysia.  The GOM representatives provided broad 
overviews of their activities, including in the eastern Malaysia 
state of Sabah, and outlined some general areas for potential U.S. 
assistance.  The Embassy is pursuing Malaysian government 
concurrence for the BCAI team's visit to Sabah proposed for November 
25-December 2.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The initial Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) 
coordination meeting with the Government of Malaysia (GOM) took 
place September 21 at the National Security Division (NSD) within 
the Prime Minister's Department in the administrative capital 
Putrajaya.  Abdul Rahim Hussin, the NSD's Marine Security Policy 
Director, led the GOM side with 17 Malaysian participants from the 
following agencies:   National Security Division (Prime Minister's 
Department), Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Malaysia Marine Police, 
Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency,  Royal Malaysian Customs, 
Immigration Department of Malaysia, Maritime Enforcement 
Coordination Center, Marine Department of Malaysia, and Ministry of 
Internal Security. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Polcouns and the DS/ATA team leader led the U.S. side, 
with participation by the State Department Senior Coast Guard 
Advisor, Department of Homeland Security representatives from 
Embassy Singapore (ICE and CBP), and Embassy's Defense Attache, 
Office of Defense Cooperation Chief, and Anti-Terrorism Assistance 
Coordinator.  U.S. participants discussed the basic concepts of the 
proposed BCAI, USG views of the maritime and border security 
situation in the Sulu/Sulawesi sea region, and potential areas of 
cooperation and assistance in the region. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The U.S. team explained that our effort focused on finding 
ways the U.S. could assist Malaysia to increase its own capacity to 
protect its borders in eastern Sabah.  We noted that a U.S. team 
would also analyze needs in the Philippines and Indonesia.  However, 
this did not constitute a new multilateral mechanism.  Our effort 
and potential assistance to Malaysia would be carried out on a 
bilateral basis.  The team assured the GOM officials that the U.S. 
had no preconceived solutions or quick fixes in mind.  Only through 
a collaborative effort would the needs analysis produce the desired 
results.  Transnational crime issues are intermingled with maritime 
security and counter-terrorism issues in the region and an 
effective, well-executed BCAI would address important aspects of the 
situation.  While focused on needs in Sabah, potential U.S. 
assistance, such as training, might also find application to border 
control security elsewhere in Malaysia. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The various GOM agency briefings focused on their 
respective missions, areas of responsibilities, capabilities, and 
resources.  GOM briefers emphasized their government's security 
initiatives in Sabah in recent years (dating back to the ASG 
kidnappings of 2000); the amount of central government resources 
invested in security in Sabah; and the GOM position that Sabah 
currently enjoyed a good security environment, unlike neighboring 
territories in Indonesia and the Philippines.  The GOM officials 
raised possible areas of assistance in general terms.  The U.S. team 
noted that some of the Malaysian requirements could be addressed by 
1206 funding and the BCAI could help identify additional areas where 
the USG might provide assistance.  Three areas of potential 
assistance identified by the GOM in the meeting were additional 
capacity building courses, small/fast boats, and more sharing of 
intelligence, particularly real-time intelligence. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The U.S. team explained the importance of the field 
portion of the analysis, which might be carried out in late November 
subject to GOM concurrence.  (Note:  The GOM's initial response to 
BCAI only approved the Kuala Lumpur phase of the BCAI.)  The GOM 
team stated that this request would be addressed through Foreign 
Ministry channels. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Comment:  The GOM officials appeared generally receptive 
to U.S. bilateral assistance in this area and interested in learning 
more about what the U.S. could offer.  Interaction between the U.S. 
team and the GOM officials was positive.  Embassy Kuala Lumpur is 
following up with the Foreign Ministry in order to seek GOM approval 
for the Sabah field portion of the BCAI.  Based on consultations 
with the Department, the Embassy has proposed November 25-December 2 
as the timeframe for the Sabah field visit. 
 
SHEAR