Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Asia And Pacific Of The House International Relations Committee-U.S. Policy In East Asia And The Pacific

Federal News Service

June 2, 2004 Wednesday

Headline: Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Asia And Pacific Of The House International Relations Committee

Subject: U.S. Policy In East Asia And The Pacific

Chaired By: Representative Jim Leach (R-Ia)

Witness: James Kelly, Assistant Secretary Of State For East Asian And Pacific Affairs

Location: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

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REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D-NY): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary. I have a couple of questions with regards to Malaysia, actually. I co-chair, along with Mr. Sessions, the caucus on Malaysia. And I know that there's various things going on. We've got a new president now. But I recently heard that Malaysia arrested Mr. Tahir, one of the most important figures of the A.Q. Khan network from Pakistan. Can you tell us, how else has Malaysia been supportive of counterterrorism and how they're interacting with us in this war against terrorism, et cetera? Are they continuing efforts of working closely together?

MR. KELLY: Malaysia has been very cooperative with us in a quiet way, Mr. Meeks, on rounding up terrorists. They have kept a pretty close watch on their borders. They have learned, as we have, that terrorists from the Middle East have availed themselves of the opportunity to go to Kuala Lumpur and to go to Malaysia and to pass on from there to other places.

The Malaysians have been particularly helpful in working for peace efforts in the southern Philippines, cooperating with both the Philippine government and with ourselves, in an effort that directly will cut back the Jama Islamiya, one of the terrorist networks in Southeast Asia, and also the Abu Sayyaf contacts with Muslims in the southern Philippines. This has been a very helpful act.

And as you mentioned, Mr. Meeks, the arrest by Malaysia of this person, Tahir, who was using Malaysia to produce high-technology items to spread the proliferation of nuclear weapons into places like Libya as a part of the A.Q. Khan network, it looks like Tahir was taking advantage of the hospitality that Malaysia had offered him. And after they did their own investigation of it, they've thrown this man in jail. And we think that's exactly where he ought to be.

REP. MEEKS: Now, I know that we had some tensions at the end of Mahathir's reign as president. Now with the new president, Mr. Abdullah, has that changed? And because of the war in Iraq-I know that Malaysia was not with us on that war-has that affected our relationships at all, both with reference to providing information in regard to terrorism as well as economically and some of the things we're looking to do with some of our businesses in the area?

MR. KELLY: We very much respect Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who is now for about six months the prime minister of Malaysia and who was strengthened by an important election that I mentioned earlier. We are in regular and very cooperative contact with the Government of Malaysia on a whole variety of efforts, and I do foresee an improvement. I have to say, Mr. Meeks, that whether it be this prime minister or the former prime minister, Malaysia is not with us on Iraq. They are what I would call a respectful critic. They make measured and very direct complaints to us about it, but not in some way of trying to undercut what we're trying to do, but to just make the suggestions that they think will help out best. Malaysia is a country we're very happy to work with on a variety of problems there. Thank you for your participation in congressional interactions with Malaysia, too, sir.

REP. MEEKS: And my last question would just be in regard to our position on the various regional trade and the financial integration effort that's being pursued with ASEAN, and between China and ASEAN. Do you see such an effort as threats to the United States economic interest, or as a natural growth considering how our own economic slowdown has impacted the economics in that region?

MR. KELLY: I find, sir, and I was out there just a couple of weeks ago, as was the chairman, that Southeast Asia has very mixed feelings about China. They want it to develop properly. They're happy that they're able to sell a lot of products to a more wealthy China was the case, but they're a little bit leery of the political influence that might be generated. For now, I think that part of that is that Southeast Asia wants to continue to welcome the U.S. as both economic participant, and political interlocutor in the region as they welcome the Chinese as well. The Chinese game is a new one for them. It involves serious economic participation, and sending able diplomats conversant in the languages. It's an opportunity and a challenge for us, but I don't at this time view it as a threat, sir.

REP. MEEKS: Thank you.

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