[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
[November 14, 2006]
[Pages 2083-2084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message to the Senate Transmitting the Malaysia-United States Treaty on 
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
November 14, 2006

To the Senate of the United States:
    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between the United States 
of America and Malaysia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, 
signed on July 28, 2006, at Kuala Lumpur. I transmit also, for the 
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with 
respect to the Treaty.
    The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance 
treaties being negotiated by the United States in order to counter 
criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should enhance our 
ability to investigate and prosecute a wide variety of crimes. The 
Treaty is self-executing.

[[Page 2084]]

    The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Under the Treaty, the Parties agree to assist each other by, 
among other things: providing evidence (such as testimony, documents, 
items, or things) obtained voluntarily or, where necessary, by 
compulsion; arranging for persons, including persons in custody, to 
travel to the other country to provide evidence; serving documents; 
executing searches and seizures; locating and identifying persons, 
items, or places; examining objects and sites; freezing and forfeiting 
assets or property; and identifying or tracing proceeds of crime.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          George W. Bush

 The White House,

 November 14, 2006.