KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Bath Iron Works has been holding talks with Malaysian officials about building ships at a government-backed shipyard here, Sen. William S. Cohen said.

Cohen, who held a news conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, said that U.S. Navy ships are already being serviced and repaired at the Lumut Shipyard.

The Maine Republican was traveling back to the United States on Tuesday and was not available for comment. His spokeswoman, Kathy Gest, said he promoted several Maine products and businesses during a trip through Taiwan and Malaysia.

For example, he discussed exporting Maine blueberries with the agriculture secretary of Taiwan, said Gest.

BIW spokeswoman Susan Pierter wouldn’t discuss details of the shipyard’s talks with Malaysian officials.

“While Senator Cohen is in the Pacific Rim on other business, we appreciate his efforts to further international business efforts for BIW and other U.S. firms in a part of the world which is becoming critical for economic and security reasons,” she said.

If BIW reaches agreement with Malaysia, it wouldn’t be the company’s first international venture. Pierter said the company has an office in Taiwan and has done business in Australia and Canada.

On another matter, Cohen said he believed President-elect Bill Clinton was right to focus immediately on domestic economic problems. But, he said, the United States should continue to play a major role in Asia and Southeast Asia and should “not become isolationist.”

Cohen, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he had discussed that with Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Abdul Rajak during his three-day visit.

On Malaysia’s proposal for establishing an East Asia Economic Caucus, Cohen said he would generally favor any organization that would promote free trade and oppose any organization that would put up protective barriers.

Cohen also said that the United States should be a mediator in helping to settle rival claims to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

“I don’t think the United States wants to get involved in the dispute in favor of one country or another,” he told reporters. “I think whatever role the United States could play as a mediator certainly might be helpful.”

Parts of the Spratlys are claimed by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Vietnam.