VZCZCXRO1835
RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKL #0320/01 1191051
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291051Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2657
INFO RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1708
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000320 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/EAP 
STATE FOR M/PRI FOR RMORRITZ 
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS FOR EPARRA 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS FOR DBISCHOF 
STATE FOR OES/AIAG FOR AMBASSSADOR LOFTIS, DWINN AND CPATTERSON 
STATE FOR REO/BKK FOR HHOWARD 
STATE FOR OES/IHB, AAIT, MED 
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND HICKEY 
CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID AND COGH 
USDA FOR APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG 
SUBJECT: MGSF01: Malaysia Response to H1N1-- End-of-Day Report #2 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The National Influenza Pandemic Planning 
Committee (NIPPC) affirmed that no suspected H1N1 cases have been 
reported in Malaysia.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) reiterated its 
travel advisory for Malaysians to postpone unnecessary international 
travel, especially to affected countries or areas.  Health Minister 
Liow Tiong Lai urged the WHO to ban travelers in Mexico from leaving 
the country.  The Ministry of Health has set up four thermal 
scanners at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), but none 
yet at other international ports of entry.  So far, only passengers 
arriving from the U.S. are being screened, according to a senior MOH 
official.   The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has halted 
issuing permits for pork and pork-related products from the United 
States and other "affected" countries until further notice.  Foreign 
Agricultural Service sent a letter of protest to DVS.  We are 
coordinating with other "affected" country Embassies regarding a 
possible joint approach to the Malaysians.  Post convened a town 
hall meeting for US and local staff and dependents April 29.  We 
will hold a town hall for the larger American community on April 30. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
GOM Requests WHO Ban Outbound Travel from Mexico 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (U) Health Minister Liow announced that the GOM has "spoken to 
WHO officials and asked them to stop those in Mexico leaving the 
country."  In a meeting with MOH Disease Division Director Dr. Hasan 
Abdul Rahman, Post learned that the GOM would like the WHO to 
recommend that all countries screen departing travelers, not just 
from Mexico. 
 
Pork Ban 
-------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Post's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) contacted the 
Malaysian Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on April 29 to 
verify a press article that said Malaysia had banned pork imports 
from "affected" countries.  The DVS official protested FAS's use of 
the term "ban," but did verify that DVS will not issue import 
permits for pork products from the United States, and other affected 
countries, until further notice.  In response, FAS sent a letter on 
urging DVS to refrain from enacting any import restrictions on U.S. 
pork and pork products in the "absence of any risk to human or 
animal health posed by such trade" and in light that the H1N1 virus 
"has not been isolated or reported in swine."  The Federation of 
Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia had previously urged the 
GOM to temporarily freeze pork imports, claiming it was a way to 
stop the highly contagious swine flu virus from being brought into 
the country.  Ironically, the Malaysian Ministry of Health website 
cites the WHO and CDC language that pork and pork products do not 
transmit the virus and are thus safe to eat.  The OIE also has 
stated that "only findings related to the circulation of the [H1N1] 
virus in pigs in zones of countries having human cases would justify 
trade measures on the important of pigs from these countries." 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Dutch Embassy informed Post's FAS Attach today that 
importers of Dutch pork products could not obtain import permits. 
It appears that all pork exporting countries will be impacted by the 
GOM's recent decision.  However, FAS will verify with the U.S. Meat 
Export Federation to learn if the organization is aware of anyone 
who has submitted, or is planning to submit, a request for an import 
permit.  Post recommends a coordinated effort with the EU and other 
diplomatic missions in Malaysia to protest the GOM's pork ban.  Last 
year, the United States exported about $390,000 of pork products to 
Malaysia, with about $27,000 more so far in the first two months of 
¶2009. 
 
Passenger Screening: Limited to KLIA 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) Contrary to local press reports, the MOH and immigration 
departments are only screening passengers arriving from the U.S., 
and not from any other H1N1 "affected" countries.   Moreover, only 
one international port of entry, the Kuala Lumpur International 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000320  002 OF 002 
 
 
Airport (KLIA), is using thermal scanners to monitor arriving 
passengers from international destinations.   According to CCD 
Director Hasan, Malaysia has 35 scanners, four of which are 
currently deployed at KLIA, with the remaining 31 located, but not 
in use, in Johor Bahru.  Aside from KLIA, Malaysia has four other 
international airports, none of which have thermal scanners. 
 
Embassy Holds Town Hall Meeting 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (U) Ambassador Keith led a town hall meeting April 29 for 
Embassy staff and dependents to review the nature and scope of the 
H1N1 flu global outbreak, reiterate appropriate preventative steps 
staff could take to reduce risks, and go over measures being taken 
by the USG and the GOM.  The Embassy will hold a second town hall 
meeting April 30 for the American community as a whole. 
 
KEITH