VZCZCXRO1688
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #1073/01 3440827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090827Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2105
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001073 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM KTIP KCRM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA SEEKS USG EXPERTISE ON COMBATING TIP 
 
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1017 - INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT 
     ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 1010 - DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HEARS 
        TIP CONCERNS 
     ¶C. KUALA LUMPUR 955 - NEW TIP SECRETARIAT 
     ¶D. KUALA LUMPUR 934 - AMBASSADOR'S LETTERS 
     ¶E. KUALA LUMPUR 880 - TIP ACTION PLAN DELIVERED 
     ¶F. KUALA LUMPUR 799 - STAFFDEL DISCUSSES 
        TRAFFICKING OF BURMESE 
     ¶G. KUALA LUMPUR 653 - AMBASSADOR MEETS HUMAN 
        RESOURCE MINISTER 
     ¶H. KUALA LUMPUR 448 - AMBASSADOR MEETS WOMEN'S 
        MINISTER 
     ¶I. KUALA LUMPUR 392 - AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH AG 
     ¶J. 07 KUALA LUMPUR 01568 - GOM UPDATES ON TIP 
     ¶K. REQUESTS TRAINING 
     ¶L. EMAIL GALLEGO TO BISCHOF 12 NOV 2008 - MEETING 
        WITH AG OFFICIALS 
 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Government of Malaysia (GOM) ministries and 
agencies with responsibility for combating trafficking in 
persons (TIP) in recent months have increasingly requested 
U.S. expertise to guide policy and build GOM's anti-TIP 
capacity in the framework of Malaysia's comprehensive 
anti-trafficking law.  The GOM is able and willing to fund 
training events, but GOM requests have been limited to U.S. 
experts.  The expertise sought by the GOM includes TIP victim 
identification; victim counseling, shelter operations, and 
best practices in investigating, prosecuting, and judging 
criminal cases against traffickers.  Action request:  Post 
requests the Department and relevant agencies identify ways 
in which the USG can provide relevant expertise. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment:  The GOM's current interest in accepting 
U.S. expertise and sharing TIP information represents an 
advance in our efforts to re-engage the GOM on TIP following 
the June 2007 Tier 3 ranking.  Sharing U.S. expertise with 
Malaysia would provide important benefits to U.S. 
anti-trafficking goals by providing guidance to Malaysia on 
enforcement of the TIP law while still at an early stage, 
increasing Malaysian anti-trafficking skills, and building 
U.S. contacts with anti-TIP agencies.  End Summary and 
Comment. 
 
GOM Responds Positively to Embassy's Efforts 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Malaysia's comprehensive anti-trafficking in 
persons law came into full force on February 28, 2008.  Since 
then, GOM agencies have increasingly focused on capacity 
building in order to be able to enforce the law.  In recent 
months, we witnessed a shift in GOM willingness to share 
information on implementation issues and training needs. 
Over the past six weeks, Polcouns and Poloff conducted a 
series of meetings with GOM officials, including with the new 
TIP Secretariat (on October 23), Women's Ministry (on 
November 11 and 17), and the Attorney General's Office 
(November 12 and 15).  Carol Chew, Private Secretary to the 
Women's Minister, told Poloff that ministries now have 
official permission to share more information on GOM efforts 
to combat TIP and to seek and/or accept USG offers to provide 
subject matter experts on TIP. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Mohamed Yusof, Head of Prosecution Division in the 
Attorney General's Office (AGO), told Polcouns the AGO sought 
U.S. expertise for training prosecutors and judges.  The AGO 
hosted an inter-agency seminar on TIP November 14-16, during 
which Poloff made a presentation on U.S. best practices and 
the AGO screened two TIP videos (MTV's EXIT video for 
Southeast Asia and the G/TIP video "Not My Life") that Post 
provided.  FSN Political Assistant observed a Royal Malaysian 
Police (RMP) TIP workshop held 28-30 October, during which 
police officials inquired about available training from U.S. 
experts.  Police have made similar requests to Legatt.  Under 
Secretary Ahmad Ismail, head of the new TIP Secretariat in 
the Home Ministry, informed Polcouns and Poloff during an 
October 23 meeting the GOM was interested in working with us 
to build GOM capacity to combat TIP. 
 
Priorities 
---------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) GOM ministries and departments tasked with 
combating TIP face many challenges, including identifying and 
assisting victims, building capacity, changing operational 
paradigms, and raising awareness regarding TIP crimes and the 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001073  002 OF 002 
 
 
new law.  Based on GOM requests and our experience, we 
summarize below the training priorities for the Malaysian 
government for which U.S. expertise would be highly 
beneficial. 
 
-- Victim Identification: Malaysia's law enforcement 
agencies, the AGO, and Women's Ministry all requested experts 
on TIP victim identification.  The AGO specifically asked for 
subject matter experts for its magistrates, who are 
responsible for certifying a TIP victim.  Providing experts 
on topics like initial screening methods and follow-up 
interviews would address existing gaps in key proficiencies. 
 
-- Investigation: GOM representatives repeatedly told Emboffs 
that law enforcement agencies lack the experience to conduct 
TIP investigations.  Experts able to provide training on TIP 
investigative techniques and best practices could help 
provide fundamental skills required for successful arrests 
and future prosecutions. 
 
-- Prosecution: Current prosecutions are witness dependent 
and not evidence-driven.  Experts that can provide expanded 
methods and strategies for successfully prosecuting TIP cases 
are essential to Malaysia's efforts in combating trafficking. 
 
-- Victim Services: The Women's Ministry is interested in 
training from experts on operating TIP shelters and providing 
basic services and counseling to TIP victims.  The ministry 
recently opened a shelter in East Malaysia and plans to open 
additional shelters.  Having subject matter experts provide 
the requested training could facilitate the training of 
current and future ministry officers dedicated to combating 
TIP. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The training sought focuses on effectively 
implementing the anti-TIP law and getting Malaysia up to 
international standards.  From our conversations with GOM 
representatives, we clearly share the same objective.  Senior 
officials, such as Attorney General Gani, also seek to change 
existing paradigms so that officials understand the dynamics 
of trafficking and are better able to engage the issue. 
 
Action Request 
-------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Post requests the Department and relevant 
Washington agencies identify ways in which the USG can meet 
GOM requests for U.S. expertise and thereby strengthen 
Malaysia's anti-TIP policies and actions. 
 
KEITH