    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 46 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
    [Pages 2052-2053]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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.

    [[Page 2053]]

    The Treaty should enhance our ability to investigate and prosecute a
    wide variety of crimes. The Treaty is self-executing.
        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.