VZCZCXRO8408
RR RUEHDBU RUEHSL
DE RUEHKL #0654/01 2220530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100530Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3071
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000654 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL MY
SUBJECT: EXBS: MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/INDONESIA/PHILIPPINES 
ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000654  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
¶1. (U) Advisor visited Singapore July 29-31, 2009 to attend 
ASCOT (Analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfer) training 
provided to Singapore Customs and meet with US. Embassy 
representatives concerning the way forward on EXBS matters. 
Advisor attended a meeting in Malaysia with Department of 
Energy (DOE) Megaports Program staff and Econoff on August 4, 
2009 and accompanied DOE Megaports Program staff to a meeting 
with Royal Malaysian Customs on August 5, 2009. 
 
SITE ASSESSMENTS/MEETINGS 
 
¶2.  (U) Singapore Customs officials and the ASCOT trainers, 
joined by EXBS Advisor and U.S. Embassy Singapore Econoff, 
met at the conclusion of the ASCOT workshop (Ref. paragraph 
3) to share feedback on the workshop materials and discuss 
next steps for the development of Singapore's domestic 
commodity identification (CIT) program.  Singapore Customs 
stated that the ASCOT workshop case studies and supporting 
materials were helpful in their efforts to ensure that 
licensing officers have the latest tools and technical 
expertise to analyze and make decisions regarding license 
applications.  Singapore Customs said that since they have 
been granted access by DOE, they do use the "E-Room" and 
"ECIT" tools.  Singapore Customs further noted that although 
the enforcement and licensing functions have been separated 
into two branches within Customs, communication between the 
two sides is good.  Customs also indicated that they are 
developing a handbook for licensing and commodity 
identification that they can later evolve into the basis for 
a domestic CIT program and ECIT platform.  DOE may work with 
Singapore Customs to implement a customized ECIT 
search-engine that could be housed using a DOE servicer in 
the United States or on a local server.  Singapore Customs 
expressed a preference for having an ECIT system onshore in 
Singapore, but must assess its needs and whether it can 
provide the subject matter expertise and IT support required 
to manage and continually update a locally based ECIT 
database.  DOE offered assistance in this endeavor. 
 
Advisor met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
representative from the U.S. Embassy, Singapore on July 30, 
2009 to discuss possibilities for coordinating and partnering 
in training efforts for law enforcement and Customs officers 
in Singapore and Malaysia.  Some thought was given to 
inviting law enforcement officers to an upcoming event with 
DOE and ICE but after discussion it was agreed that timing on 
the event was such that involvement of officers from other 
countries was not appropriate for the planned event.  Both 
ICE and Advisor agreed to maintain contact and dialogue 
concerning joint opportunities. 
 
Advisor also met with Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy 
Singapore to express appreciation for all of the support and 
assistance offered to the EXBS Program throughout the past 
year.  During the discussion both Advisor and Econoff noted 
that consideration for regional training opportunities might 
be appropriate in planning for ongoing engagement.  Enconoff 
advised that Department of Commerce has plans for 
establishing an Export Control Officer position in Singapore. 
 
Advisor met with Economic Counselor, Econoff, and 
representatives from DOE Megaports Initiative Program on 
Tuesday, August 5, 2009 at the U.S. Embassy, Kuala Lumpur. 
DOE personnel provided a status report on the installation of 
the radiation detection equipment at Port Klang Westport and 
Northport terminals.  DOE further advised that they intended 
to propose to Royal Malaysian Customs that the program be 
expanded to additional locations.  The Megaports Initiative 
Program Officer stated he would also propose to GOM officials 
that they consider hosting regional training for the 
Megaports program at their training facility in Malacca.  DOE 
personnel invited embassy staff to attend a meeting with 
Royal Malaysian Customs the following day. 
 
Advisor accompanied DOE staff to a meeting at Royal Malaysian 
Customs offices in Putrajaya on Wednesday, August 6, 2009. 
The meeting, chaired by Dato Ibrahim Bin H.J. Jappar of Royal 
Malaysian Customs was well attended by Royal Malaysian 
Customs managers from various locations as well as a 
representative from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board.  DOE 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000654  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
contractors gave a pictorial presentation of progress on 
detection equipment installation.  Dato Ibrahim expressed 
concerns about assuring all personnel working in the vicinity 
of the equipment of its safety which AELB and customs 
managers responded to by reporting on their plans for 
training and distribution of written information on how the 
systems work.  (NOTE:  The radiation detection systems are 
passive and emit no radiation.)  DOE staff proposed that 
there be further discussions concerning the expansion of the 
Megaports Initiative Program to additional locations and that 
consideration be given to GOM using its training facility in 
Malacca as a regional training center for the Megaports 
program.  Royal Malaysian customs officials responded 
favorably.  There was also positive reaction to the idea of a 
ribbon cutting ceremony when the systems have been fully 
installed and tested; possibly in early November.  Royal 
Malaysian Customs officials commented that they will need to 
do a lot of training which DOE indicated it was prepared to 
provide.  Advisor noted that since the radiological screening 
will be done on export containers, if there is additional 
training needed that falls outside the scope of that which is 
offered by DOE, EXBS could provide training in the area of 
container examination and targeting. 
 
TRAINING CONDUCTED 
 
¶3.     (U) An analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfers 
(ASCOT) Workshop was presented by National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA) of the Department of Energy (DOE) in 
Singapore July 29-31, 2009.  Fifty-two participants 
representing Singapore Customs, Ministry of Defense; National 
Environment Agency; Singapore Police Force; Immigration and 
Checkpoints Authority; Economic Development Board; and the 
Agency for Science, Technology & Research attended the 
session.  The workshop covered: nuclear weapons overview; 
missile technology overview; electronics for nuclear and 
missile applications; structural materials; industrial 
equipment for nuclear and missile applications; biological 
weapons and industrial equipment; chemical weapons overview; 
chemical weapons precursors; and, at the specific request of 
Singapore Customs, the workshop included catch-all controls. 
In addition to technical information, case studies and 
exercises were used to help participants apply information to 
real work scenarios.  Attendees were proactive during the 
workshop and participants' evaluations of the workshop were 
positive. 
 
IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE 
 
¶4.     (U)  None. 
 
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS 
 
¶5. (U) Work at the US. Embassy Kuala Lumpur is progressing on 
providing work space for a locally hired employee to provide 
additional assistance to the program.  EXBS contributed to 
the costs of the build out and will be able to initiate the 
process of hiring an FSN in the very near future. Advisor has 
scheduled a meeting with human resources personnel on August 
11, 2009 to prepare for the hiring process. 
 
 
KEITH