VZCZCXRO8965
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #1568/01 2981043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251043Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0168
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MTS AND G/TIP 
JUSTICE FOR ICITAP AND OPDAT 
JAKARTA FOR ICITAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM MY
SUBJECT: GOM UPDATES ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING LAW, REQUESTS 
TRAINING 
 
REF: KUALA LUMPUR 1557 - EAST MALAYSIA POLICE ON TIP 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) A senior official in Malaysia's Internal Security 
Ministry told us October 22 that the Anti-Trafficking Council 
created by the new anti-trafficking in persons law would meet 
formally by mid-November.  Enforcement of the law would begin 
in early 2008, as Malaysian authorities needed time to inform 
and train law enforcement officials, and to think through the 
ramifications of the statute's broad definition of a 
trafficking victim and plan accordingly.  The government 
shelters also would open in early 2008.  The Ministry 
welcomed and encouraged U.S. anti-trafficking law enforcement 
training for police, prosecutors and judges.  Separately, the 
GOM's key legal training institute contacted the Embassy on 
October 25 and requested U.S. anti-trafficking training. 
Action request:  Please advise on possible USG resources that 
can be made available in the short term for law enforcement 
training in support of Malaysia's initial implementation of 
the comprehensive anti-trafficking law.  End Summary. 
 
Activating the Anti-TIP Council 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Polchief called on the Ministry of Internal 
Security's Deputy Secretary General, Ahmad Fuad bin Abdul 
Aziz, on October 22 and discussed the status of Malaysia's 
new anti-TIP law.  The Ministry has coordinating 
responsibility for anti-trafficking under the new law, with 
duties initially falling on Ahmad's office.  Ahmad and his 
staff Azrul Izham bin Hamzah told us that the GOM is focused 
now on Part II of the law, which covers the "Council for 
Anti-Trafficking in Persons," and on articles 66 and 67 
related to implementing regulations.  The Council would hold 
its first formal meeting by mid-November, and the first order 
of business would be selection of Council's non-governmental 
members (up to three).  The Ministry intended to stand up a 
Secretariat to support the Council. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Enforcement in Early 2008 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ahmad explained that enforcement of the law would 
begin in early 2008.  The GOM would open its two victims 
shelters at roughly the same time.  The GOM needed time, 
Ahmad explained, to conduct training and prepare resources 
before moving to implementation of the full law and 
enforcement activities.  Malaysian law enforcement officials, 
including police, prosecutors and judges were as a rule 
unfamiliar with TIP, and required training.  Equally 
important, the law includes a broad definition of a 
trafficking victim and the GOM needed to think through the 
ramifications and prepare for the possible application to 
many victims.  For example, Malaysia had prepared only 
limited government shelter space, which might be overwhelmed 
depending on how the Malaysian officials interpreted and 
applied the law.  Polchief noted the importance of victim 
identification training.  Polchief also offered that many 
countries, including the U.S., partnered with civil society 
and religious groups to provide protection and services to 
victims.  We emphasized to Azrul that the U.S. would focus 
closely on Malaysia's steps to implement the TIP law as we 
prepared the 2008 TIP report. 
 
Ministry Requests U.S. Training 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Ahmad told polchief that Malaysia would welcome and 
value training and expert exchanges to support Malaysian law 
enforcement officials' ability to implement the new law. 
Such training would be important for police and prosecutors, 
as well as judges.  Ahmad offered to coordinate future 
training through his office.  Polchief said he would convey 
this request to Washington. 
 
Key Training Institute Also Reaches Out 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Separately, the Director General of the Judicial 
and Legal Training Institute (JLTI), Khadijah Mahmud, advised 
us on October 25 that JLTI is planning their training 
calendar for 2008 and would like the Embassy to help 
facilitate training for prosecutors and judges on TIP related 
issues.  JLTI is a division of the Prime Minister's 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001568  002 OF 002 
 
 
Department and is the central training institute for all 
federal judges, magistrates and prosecutors.  Khadijah 
expressed particular interest in training for investigations 
and prosecutions.  We originally discussed training 
cooperation with JLTI in July 2007, and at that time the 
Director General seemed willing to explore these 
opportunities. 
 
Comment and Action Request 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Malaysian government has opened the door widely 
for possible TIP training assistance for law enforcement and 
legal officials.  State-level police officials also welcome 
U.S. training (reftel).  Supporting Malaysia's initial 
implementation of its comprehensive anti-trafficking law is 
clearly in the U.S. interest for combating trafficking here. 
Embassy is currently coordinating with ICITAP/Jakarta on 
limited training for Malaysian police in connection with 
Indonesian law enforcement efforts.  We also are seeking to 
bring out a TIP legal expert under our Public Affairs speaker 
program.  Embassy requests Department identify possible 
State, Department of Justice or other USG resources that can 
be made available in the short term for training in support 
of Malaysia's implementation of the comprehensive 
anti-trafficking law. 
 
KEITH