VZCZCXRO0192
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0193/01 0750716
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160716Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2460
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2570
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2751
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0001
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0600
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0225
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0209
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0040
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2629
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMHAA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1680
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1105

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000193 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, L, DS, PM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHSA MARR EWWT MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL PIRACY CONFERENCE 
MAY 18-19 
 
REF: STATE 15444 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary and Comment:  Malaysia has officially 
invited United States participation in a May 18-19 
"International Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea" hosted 
by the Foreign Ministry.  The conference aims to share 
experiences in the Straits of Malacca and Southeast Asia in 
support of the global effort to combat piracy, according to 
the diplomatic note we received.  The conference is in line 
with Malaysia's expressed interest in taking a more active 
role in international anti-piracy efforts, including its 
desire to join the anti-piracy Contact Group (reftel). 
Future Prime Minister Najib, who reportedly is behind 
Malaysia's consideration of more active roles in anti-piracy 
efforts, is expected to deliver the keynote address.  Post 
believes conference participation warrants positive USG 
consideration as it supports our policy objectives of 
strengthening regional maritime security and encouraging 
Malaysia to contribute more fully to international security 
concerns.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
The Conference Program 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The tentative program was described in a diplomatic 
note (CU 102/09) received March 12, which post has scanned 
and forwarded electronically to EAP/MTS.  The program as 
outlined envisions an opening ceremony the morning of May 18 
with a keynote address by the Prime Minister.  The program 
includes seven sessions, spread over two days, as follows: 
(1) overview of the global piracy situation; (2) piracy in 
Somalia; (3) industry's response to piracy; (4) legal issues; 
(5) regional best practices to combat crimes at sea: Straits 
of Malacca and the Caribbean; (6) sharing the costs of 
combating piracy amongst stakeholders; (7) panel discussion - 
lessons learned. 
 
Invitees and Presenters 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Ministry's note invites the U.S. to nominate 
participants for the conference.  The conference organizer, 
Dr. Ahmad Faisal, MFA Undersecretary for Research, Treaty and 
International Law Division, informed us that invitations to 
attend also have been extended to all ASEAN nations, the UN, 
IMO, EU, the European Commission, France, Italy, Yemen, 
Djibouti, and Somalia.  The Ministry has solicited 
presenters, whether officials or academics, from the UK, 
Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, IMO, UN, and Indonesia. 
We contacted embassy counterparts from Australia, the UK, 
France, and Singapore, and all confirmed that they are 
inclined to support Malaysia's initiative.  These embassies 
are awaiting further details about the conference and are 
consulting with their capitals. 
 
MFA on Desired U.S. Participation 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Ahmad informed us that the Ministry is particularly 
interested in locating U.S. presenters for Session five of 
the conference, comparing experiences in the SOM with those 
in the Caribbean.  He emphasized interest in presenters from 
the State Department Legal Bureau to discuss legal 
mechanisms, such as harmonizing domestic and international 
laws, and from the U.S. Coast Guard to provide expertise on 
anti-crime surveillance and enforcement.  More broadly, Ahmad 
welcomed U.S. suggestions for presenters for any other 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000193  002 OF 002 
 
 
sessions, including that on Somalia piracy. 
 
U.S. Response 
------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Embassy encourages positive consideration by 
Washington of the Malaysian request for U.S. participation in 
the conference as it supports our policy objectives of 
strengthening regional maritime security and encouraging 
Malaysia to contribute more fully to international security 
concerns.  Embassy Kuala Lumpur POC is Jason Donovan 
(DonovanJ@state.gov or DonovanJA@state.sgov.gov). 
 
 
KEITH