February 17, 2013
Xenophon: Malaysian democracy in ‘dire and critical state’
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said today that his deportation from Malaysia yesterday revealed how “dire and critical” the state of Malaysian democracy was.
The independent lawmaker was also quoted by Australian media as saying that his deportation was a “big mistake” as it had backfired on Putrajaya.
“But if it means more Australians in the region are aware of how dire and critical the state of Malaysian democracy is and how Malaysian democracy is at the crossroads, then that unambiguously is a good thing,” Xenophon was quoted today as saying by Australia’s national broadcaster ABC News.
“Australia and Malaysia are the greatest of friends. This shouldn’t affect the relationship but I think if the Malaysian government thought that they were doing the smart thing, I think it spectacularly backfired on them,” he added.
Xenophon also said that Australia had a moral obligation to intervene in the coming Election 2013 to ensure that it was clean and fair, despite the polls having a “veneer of democracy”, according to Australian newspaper Herald Sun.
“Millions of Malaysians see Australia as a shining beacon of democracy in the region and seek our help for independent election observers,” he said.
Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (right) has condemned Xenophon’s 
detention as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be “robust” in response.
Xenophon arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.
Xenophon was to review the country’s electoral system with a delegation of other Australian MPs and senators that would arrive later, but his colleagues have cancelled the trip in response to his deportation.
Immigration Department Director-gGneral Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3) because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia’s image.
Alias highlighted Xenophon’s remarks about the Malaysian government being “authoritarian” in handling last April’s BERSIH 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.
In Xenophon’s observation of the rally, he noted that the Police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water in what had been a largely peaceful protest.
His comments were also laid down in the final report of a fact-finding mission on elections in Malaysia as part of an international polls observer group that included six others, including representatives from neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Germany.
Xenophon said today that the immigration authorities had called him a “security risk”.
“But it seems the only risk I am is to embarrass the Malaysian government because of my advocacy for clean elections in Malaysia,” he said, according to ABC News.
Xenophon’s detention and deportation have raised the ire of several Malaysians, including electoral reform group BERSIH 2.0 and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) politicians. BERSIH2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan lambasted Xenophon’s deportation as a move that showed the government’s “paranoia” about the coming national polls.
Anwar called it a “gross abuse of power” that violated international protocol in treating international lawmakers, especially those from the Commonwealth.
Several other Twitter users joined Ambiga in raining scorn on the government’s decision, with the subject spawning a hashtag #xenophon.
The Election Commission (EC), however, has defended the lawmaker’s deportation, saying that immigration authorities were merely performing their duty. EC Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar added that it was unjust to judge the fairness of Election 2013, which must be called by April, based on Xenophon’s expulsion.
Here is the Reason Why (2012)
I have yet to see a statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia on this matter. The Australian reaction is to be expected, but will its government go beyond issuing a protest note, I wonder. As usual, our Prime Minister has chosen at this point in time to maintain his elegant silence.–Din Merican
As a 3rd world country with 3rd world leaders, our actions are expected. the Aussies can scream all they like, UMNO-BN dont care. Rosmah is busy shopping to bother what the Aussies thinks.
Of course the EC had to say those things to make it seems right to deport him. What else can the EC say? The truth then is from the more creditable Kevin Rudd and Australia standing in democracy.
Now Msia suddenly threw itself to the world stage, can it expect any democratic nations say Australia was wrong?
Despite this event is a gifted advantage to Annuar, BN will go on to win anyway as Madhater-Najib had said by hook or crook and 100% by crook is to be expected so how Pakatan is gonna beat that esp. the fixed deposit state can easily negotiated. It always has been.
Msia need a change and the incumbents are scare stiff because they know what will happen to their self-interests. However, the masses of Msia are not educated enough to realize a change is indeed needed.
Msia is blessed with more black gold and that is fresh carrot to win by crook. With more black gold, collateralization from cash-flow futures become possible so more white elephant mega projects can be received from cronies.What else is new?
Foreign Relations Diffusion module 101:
1. Silence is golden
2. If silence has to be appeased with responsive balance, then transfer or retire the one big gun involved with golden handshake (just for show).
I have never seen a more idiotic head of a nation than this Malaysian false democrat!
Foreign Relations Diffusion Model 101
3. Silence by itself also constitues a response.
Din, good comment about the silence from the Foreign Minister and the PM. I saw in the video of Foreign Minister Carr that you posted that Carr said “I have been trying to talk to the Malaysian Foreign Minister, but without success. He is aware that I would like to speak to him.” Sounds like Anifah doesn’t want to talk about it. To refuse/decline to take a phone call from your counterpart in a friendly country is not good diplomacy. It just makes matters worse.
_________________
Ambassador Malott,
Anifah Aman is not interested in diplomacy. He is just a Minister in name. He promised to have tea tarik with me more than a year ago. No news from him. To me he is unreliable and not serious. Should I have to see him on the street, I will tell him so.
Yes, you don’t win friends by not answering or returning their calls. This Xenophon affair is badly handled and in my book, the D-G of Immigration Department should be dismissed and the Home Affairs Minister too. But alas, Najib is in charge and he will not do anything of that sort.–Din Merican
All these distinguished foreign visitors are now
persona non grata in authoritarian Malaysia ??
Our Minister Of Foreign Affairs is exactly that,having tryst n affairs in Foreign countries and passing some to Big Boss,brother and fellow members…Oouch!!!
Din,
I felt that Najib should have put Badawi as foreign minister instead. Or better still Razaleigh. Perhaps, Anifah is talking to 100 Suluans still holding Kampung Tandao (Lahad Datu) ransom
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/221665
Now, another ministerial clown speaks BS
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/xenophon-was-never-included-in-aussie-delegation-says-ministers-office/
Meanwhile Malaysia news media at work to discredit Xenophon
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/18/aussie-paper-slams-xenaphon-for-interfering/