Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Australia's Indian community cannot trust the Abbott Government with its safety and security

by Ganesh Sahathevan


Muslim Community leader Keysar Trad was recently invited by the Abbott Government to work with it to ensure the safety of all Australians against acts of terrorism by his fellow Muslims.

The same person is on record saying:

India, the Asian country which is dominated by the lowest of the low amongst racists, the class society which divides its own people into four classes and places people of other faiths, and Muslims in particular as the lowest of the low. The policies of these cow worshippers, and their extermination of Muslims in their countries and inside Kashmir (to the silence of Western countries) is one more example of how this feeling of elitism is not restricted to the colour of the elitist, it is a lifestyle of those idiots who have intoxicated themselves with a false feeling of power, and who actively exercise this power against others.
(see full article below)

Right or wrong, Mr Trad has grievances against India and the customs,traditions and beliefs of her  people, some of whom are now Australian residents and citizens.
Trusting Mr Trad to ensure our safety (speaking as one of sub-continental heritage) is asking for a level of naivety that would be frowned upon even in a child.

Nevertheless, Mr Abbott and his Government seem intent on seeking Mr Trad's counsel , and in doing whatever necessary to ensure his community and he are kept on side.
Asking that the Indian community trust that the Abbott Government will do what is in the best interest of the community's safety and security is asking that we stupidly believe that we will not  be left exposed by advise from Mr Trad designed to leave us vulnerable to attacks from his Muslim brethren. Neither can we take the chance that we will inadvertently be left the loser in some compromise that the Abbott Government concludes with Mr Trad, in the mistaken belief that it will keep everyone safe.
END 















 
 
 
[This article was published in the 16th issue of Nida'ul Islam magazine ( http://www.islam.org.au), December - January 1996-97]

RACISIM: An Islamic Response

In her maiden speech in parliament, Pauline Hanson revealed the egoist nature of Western society. Her stance was supported by Graham Campbell, who is notorious for his anti-Islam view. We look at the nature of Australian society, and compare it within the context of Islam.

Part 1: ELITISM

"He said: I am better than him, You created me from fire, and created him from clay." [S7:V12]
So was the first reported case of elitism, and the promise, that through the same trap, Satan would attempt to beguile humanity.
The second reported case was the competition between Cain and Able, that bout of elitism ended in the elitist killing the humble of the two. (refer 5: 27-31)
Ever since, man has been trying to prove that he is better than the next, except for those saved by Allah.
What brings one to write about elitism? Is it indeed the threat faced by the society we live in when a member of this society abuses her position of honour, and stirs these feelings of elitism? You know, the case between Adam and Satan was one being exclaiming superiority over another, the case with Cain and Able was that of one person not being able to bear the superiority of another when this was proven to him, so he killed him.
Today, the elitist builds a cult, to rally support, and then looks for what it considers the weakest in its society, and rallies its cult to prey on this weak section of its society. It can go on a larger scale, if it is intelligent, and make all in its society members of its cult, and prey on neighbouring societies.
I cannot resist the Hitler parallel, wanting to destroy every person who did not fit into the particular mould he had in mind, and today's fame-starved individuals who have an image, and appear to believe that fitting to that image holds the salvation for the society they live in.
So Pauline Hanson talks about the big picture, without looking at it; she looks at the threat from the position of a desperate coward, not realising the opportunities which a little tact, a little research, and the realisation of just how powerful one is, would generate for the improvement of her society.
Then we have Graeme Campbell, who went a step further and actually named Muslims as being undesirable immigrants because Islamic fundamentalism is so alien to western culture.
He was sufficiently brave to actually come out and say this, yet, from the Muslim viewpoint, our ideology is the best salvation for the people of Australia, and the people of the world in general. Yes, we are a threat to the culture of drunkenness, paedophilia, and mostly we are a big threat to the culture of ELITISM.
To us, the most honourable is the most pious, and we are not in the position to judge this piety, so we as Muslims, are fundamentally opposed to the notion of elitism. We encourage the principle that we are all to Adam, and Adam was created from earth.
The noise generated by so many, and the mass support that these elitist individuals seem to rally is incredible to say the least. It would be easier to understand this mentality in Rwanda, or in some South American countries, or any third world country where Islam is a minority. But in Australia, it is extremely perturbing.
So how is this elitism countered? It seems that the reaction only came when the bank balance started to suffer, when condemnation came from the president of the Olympic body, from our foreign customers, from people who can influence our own personal benefits. They were not criticised because their views are evil, not because they are destructive, but because they would reflect badly on us.
How many from our own community reacted on the basis that Pauline is threatening our own personal lifestyles? How many of us were angered for Allah alone, rather than self interest? If we are angered because of self interest, then we are no different to her, we should sign up as fellow elitists.
How far removed are these elitist notions from our Messenger (peace and blessings upon him), he used to look for these disadvantaged groups and be the first to offer assistance, and encouraged his companions and all Muslims to offer assistance to them.
Traditionally, the Muslim notion and reaction is to welcome a disadvantaged person, and serve upon them, and offer every assistance which we are capable of. This indeed is diametrically opposed to the elitist views which are touted by so many in this community.
Let them go back to their own country! They stuffed it up there, let them solve their own problems! We do not want their problems in our country! When in Rome, do as the Romans do! They do not assimilate! Assimilation is now the most vile word to my hearing because it has been so abused by these people.
It is astounding how, when Pauline started the assimilation argument that the media found a Muslim woman wearing the Hijab, slightly overweight, doing her shopping, and channel nine would show her in an advertisement for one of their shows, right after the assimilation comment. They do not film a fat Australian woman in tight bicycle shorts, or tight pants, or an Australian drunk, or a nun, or an Australian welfare cheat. NO!!! They show a Muslim woman wearing a Hijab, she is not assimilating, it would be okay if this same woman walked around in bicycle shorts, with her body vulgarly bulging out to the point of regurgitation.
These people are whacked, they have not got a clue! Unfortunately, there are too many of them to be described as a minority. Perhaps they are the vocal section of a wider group, because it seems that the Liberal and Labour governments have tacitly approved and employed a form of discrimination in their policies before this fiasco.
One just needs to look at the points system, and how these favour European migrants. Or the government services, or the way non - Westerners are treated by many in our community.
However, the politically correct discrimination practised by other Parliamentarians was different. Whilst it was there, and enforced, the little man, who had become accustomed to so much being given to him, did not really understand it, it was too subtle, and too well exercised, you had to be astute to discover it.
Pauline Hanson was the panacea for this little man who needed it spelled out. Her words, although they did not call for action against migrants who are already in this country, gave this little man the license to vet out his frustrations on these migrants. Instead of guarding the borders of the country against the illegal entrants into Australia, he wanted to reverse the migration, and make life intolerable for the migrants already here, and send them back. He does not care about their contribution to society. He did not understand why the other parliamentarians were discreet about voicing these views.
The unwillingness of the other parliamentarians to give more than the least lip service to these views just shows that these people tacitly support such views. Elitism is rife in our politics, the classic example is the report in the paper of a couple of parliamentarians wanting to gag a Greens senator for not wearing his tie, and the report named one of these as one of the people speaking out against Pauline. It is just a struggle to grab anything which will boost their egos, to justify their elitism. Simultaneously blinded to any fact which would breed understanding.
So the little man feels braver now, and is able to justify taunting our sisters when they walk in the streets as he passes them in his car. Or to taunt me because I look non Western. He is justified, because Pauline has inadvertently convinced him that such actions are the solution to the problems of this country and he is the white knight in his shining armour, with the blue Australian Blood (or should I say: the beer Australian blood) who must come to the rescue.
As these people are responding to the suggestions of Satan, unhesitantly, and the basic suggestion, the very one which fell him from grace, the "I am better than he" principle, they are heading to the same fate.
And how many a community passed away before them, which are now destroyed: "And how many a township have We destroyed while it was sinful, so that it lies in ruins, and a deserted well, and lofty tower! Have they not traveled in the land, and have they hearts wherewith to feel and ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts, which are within the bosoms, that grow blind." [S22:V45-46]
"See they not how many generation We destroyed before them, whom We had established in the earth more firmly that We have established you, and We shed on them abundant showers from the sky, and made the rivers flow beneath them. Yet We destroyed them for their sins and created after them another generation." [S6:V6]
"And We have indeed written in the Zabour after the Zikr, that the Earth will be inherited by my servants who are righteous." [S21:V105]
In a way, they feel safe because of the quantity of water which surrounds this country, so they feel fortified behind this great body, it gives them a feeling of security. But the reality is, the land belongs to God, not to them, and if those foreigners, whom they fear as migrants are not permitted to enter as migrants, they will come as settlers, in numbers so large that they will not be able to process them, hold them, or stop them. What will they do then? If these foreigners who are restraining themselves, because they see a legal hope, that they can come to this vast mainly uninhabited land for whatever reason, are told that there is no longer a legal way to come here, what will they do?
What will a starving person do when he wants food?
They will no longer respect these laws which were drafted in a cocoon away from the reality that the land of Australia does not belong to white European man. In fact, if the original inhabitants had their way, or if we want to employ Pauline Hanson justice, then white man should pack his bags and leave this country, for your people Pauline, have been the worst of guests!
The criminal dregs of white society colonised this country, and now, they only take the select choice of other societies, and the descendants of these criminal dregs tell us that they are better than us. And because we are not elitists, we tolerate them. Yet they want us to assimilate, perhaps they will only become satisfied when we each die our hair red, wear blue/green contact lenses, and operate a fish and chips shop, otherwise, we would not be truly assimilating, would we?
"As for those whose souls the angels took while still they were wronging themselves - the angels said, "in what were you engaged?" They said, "We were weak in the land." They said: "was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you might have emigrated in it?" So for those, their abode is hell, and it is a bad destination." [S4:V97]
So it is a duty for the oppressed to seek out a land where he can practice his faith without persecution, rather than join the rot.
Of course, Australia has to feature prominently in this treatise, for no reason other than the fact that I live here. A study of other western countries will show the situation to be worse. In America for example, the situation with elitism sees the neighbouring Mexicans whose Texas was usurped from them by the Yanks being treated like unwanted feral animals, they are refused any basic human rights, and reports have been filed of their numbers being bashed and humiliated by border patrols. The US policies are more far reaching, it seems that as their power of communication, and weapon potential grows, they expand their influence and interference in the domestic affairs of foreign nations. So we see subversive activities in practically all South American countries to keep them unstable so that they can never pose a threat to the myth of the great free America.
If we look further, we see their interference in the affairs of Islamic countries which are on the other side of the globe, we see them shape the politics of Egypt, Saudi, Kuwait and many other countries, and we see them suppressing the revival of Islam there.
Canada is an example of irony, a country divided into two official languages seeing the French side banning shop signs in languages other than French.
Yet the French appear to be the most intolerant going to the extent of banning the importation of basic Islamic books into their country, including simple books such as Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawy's "The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam", and banning Muslim women from attending high schools and universities if their head is covered with a scarf. To the point of having police there to stop these sisters from entering university grounds.
The British are no better, their incestuous relationship and influence over Arab countries saw them debating the introduction of a new law to deport Muslims on suspicion of so called "fundamentalist" links without a trial. Not to mention their support of the Serbs in the Balkan conflict through opposing arms sale to the Bosnian Muslims.
The Germans are not free from blame either, apart from their open support to the Croatians in the Balkan conflict, Turkish Muslims have been hunted by youth gangs in Germany as well as having a number of Muslim homes burnt at the hands of these gangs.
The Communists in particular have practised their elitism against all religion and Islam in particular, turning mosques into factories, and deporting entire Muslim communities such as the mass deportation of 3 million Chechens at the end of WW2 by Stalin where one million died on the way, and their brutal invasion of Chechnya and their inhuman treatment of Muslims there.
The Chinese are also actively practicing their form of elitism on minorities in their country and abroad with persecutions of Muslims, and the entering into treaties with Russia and other countries to counter the growing threat of the "Islamic Menace".
There are other examples in Africa, Rwanda Hootoos and Tutsies, and in Palestine, where Palestinian Muslims in particular have no rights whatsoever, to the extent that the murder of a Palestinian earns the Israeli murderer a penalty of one third of a cent and a suspended prison sentence. They have an excuse though, they are "God's chosen people" - what they do not realise is that they have been chosen as fuel for His fire, but they will keep this murder going until we stop them with the help of Allah.
India, the Asian country which is dominated by the lowest of the low amongst racists, the class society which divides its own people into four classes and places people of other faiths, and Muslims in particular as the lowest of the low. The policies of these cow worshippers, and their extermination of Muslims in their countries and inside Kashmir (to the silence of Western countries) is one more example of how this feeling of elitism is not restricted to the colour of the elitist, it is a lifestyle of those idiots who have intoxicated themselves with a false feeling of power, and who actively exercise this power against others.
What it boils down to is that elitism is practised to the detriment of others in many Western countries, as well as would be Western countries, on various scales. It seems that a common victim of this elitism with all these countries is the Muslim; this is evident through both government policies and the way their media reports negatively on Islam.
The joke is on the elitists and the Muslims who stand idly by letting all this take place without exercising the power given to us by Islam. "And if you turn away, He will exchange a people other than you, then they will not be like you." [S47: V38]

By Br. Keysar Trad

Monday, July 21, 2014

MH 17-Najib's deal leaves Australia out on a limb: Abbott let down by DAFT,Bishop ,Peta & co?



NOTE
For the sake of efficiency , I am copying and pasting an email posted to recipients on my mailing list .


That Malaysian PM Najib concluded  a deal with the rebels/separatists/bastards even as 
 Julie Bishop was doing her thing at the UN, illustrates the point raised below, that while Tony Abbot rightly demanded that Russia cooperate in the matter of MH 17, he was likely to find himself out on a limb while the other parties involved approached the matter in the context of their own national interest. 

Australians ought to be concerned that an understanding of the competing priorities seemed to be lacking in Abbott's words and actions. Again, he seems to have been let down by his advisers. 
END

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ganesh Sahathevan <ganesh.sahathevan@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 1:04 PM
Subject: Standing up to Putin-Europe needs Russia's energy, and Malaysia its fighter jets? Why Australia might be left out on a limb
To:


NOTE 
While Tony Abbott has rightly demanded that Russia take responsibility and cooperate with other interested countries in the 
the MH 17 investigation, it does look as if Malaysia and Europe may have other priorities to consider.
Europe's dependence on Russian gas has been well documented.
Malaysia's reliance on Russia for air defence is less clear, especially in context of this intriguing report:


MH17 Rosmah Mansor has sent word to Russian President Vladimir Putin to call her husband, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, over the MH17 tragedy.

According to a brief report in Sin Chew Daily website, Rosmah said she had asked someone, who is close to her as well as Putin, to convey the message.
However, there is no mention as to who this person is.
The report stated that Rosmah is hoping Putin would take the initiative to call Najib and explain the issue in order to calm down Malaysians, who are enraged over the incident.
Sin Chew also did not state where she had made the remarks.
Rosmah was present at a Wanita Umno function in Kuala Lumpur earlier butBernama, which reported on the event, made no mention of her commenting on the ill-fated plane.
Upon completing Maghrib prayers, Najib received a call from Putin.
However, the report was removed from Sin Chew website later in the day.

Meanwhile, Abbott and Julie Bishop have had no luck getting hold of their Russian counterparts-and are instead being publicly scolded  by the Russians:



 

Malaysia Invests In Sukhoi Fighter Readiness

PARIS AIR SHOW » 2013
Malaysia has allocated RM300 million to increase the combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.
Malaysia has allocated RM300 million to increase the combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.
June 17, 2013, 4:10 AM
The events in Sabah, Malaysia, this past March, when local forces conducted Operation Daulat used combat jets to quell the resistance of the Filipino gunmen on the island of Borneo, may have prompted a spate of arms sales to that country and her closest neighbors. The armed forces do have a big wish list for weapons, but procurement processes for the most expensive and longest-lead items are likely to be launched properly only after the general elections in Malaysia later this year. In the meantime, the ministry of finance and the royal treasury–the two main watchdogs–are loosening their grips somewhat so as to give the air force the means to improve its fleet readiness.
In late March, Sukhoi won a three-year contract called “The supply of articles, services and technical assistance for Su-30MKM aircraft” worth RM300 million (more than U.S.$100 million), three times the allocation over the previous three-year period. Respective documents were signed by MOD secretary general Datuk Dr. Haji Ismail Haji Ahmad, with Sukhoi deputy general director for marketing Alexander Klementiev and director for after-sales support Vyacheslav Lozan. The increased spending is meant to boost combat readiness of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Su-30MKM fleet from the current level of 65 to 70 percent to 85 percent in the “near term” and eventually increase this to 100 percent. TheRMAF’s 11th Squadron stationed at Gong Kedak has 18 heavyweight twin-engine vectored-thrust fighters received new from Irkut’s IAZ factory in 2007-2011. After the manufacturer’s guarantee period expired, most of the Russian support team departed Gong Kedak AFB, leaving only three of their number–and they then left this past January following expiration of the previous service contract.
“The notable increase in spending on our services will allow our specialists to more closely monitor the aircraft operations and shorten the reaction time to RMAF requests for spares and repair services. Importantly, the new contract calls for a permanent presence of Sukhoi advisors and technicians at Gong Kedak,” Klementiev told AIN. The contract calls for deliveries of additional aerodrome equipment, increase of spares and expendables stocks, carrying out on-site repairs of onboard equipment, consultancy and training forRMAF maintainers.
As part of the aircraft delivery contract, Russia built the Sukhoi Technical Center (STC) at Gong Kedak. It was completed and handed over to the Malaysian government, which appointed Aerospace Technology Systems Corp. (ATSC) to be the operator. To work at full capacity, STC’s warehouses need to be filled with spares, expendables and maintenance tools, as necessary, which will be done under the new contract. The facility has several workshops and will permit RMAF and ATSC to perform maintenance, except major overhaul of airframes, engines and the most complex parts of onboard systems. Sukhoi assessed ATSCstaff members as “well educated” but indicated they need more training in performing manufacturer-prescribed work on Russian-made jets.
RMAF crews have mastered aerobatics and use of vectored thrust, attracting praise from the Russian air force commander Gen. Victor Bondarev, while he was attending the LIMA 2013 show. Following training of the initial group of Malaysian fighter pilots, Sukhoi and Irkut ceased such services four years ago. They hoped the customer would award them a new contract for pilot training “sometime in the future to ensure that the RMAF 11th Squadron crews are able to use the Su-30MKM capabilities to full extent,” including application of precision-guided munitions. “This would require us to send a group of highly skilled engineers and pilots there who have the complete knowledge of the type’s functional capabilities,” said Klementiev.
ATSC was founded in 1994 as a joint venture with a 70-percent stake held by National Aerospace and Defense Industries, and the rest by Russian partners, and runs the MiG Technical Center at Kuantan AFB and MiG Component Repair Center at MEC City. The company claims to have mastered checks on the Su-30MKM after each 200 flight hours and servicing procedures on the airplane’s OEPrNK optronic aiming and navigation complex system, OLS optical locator, N011M “Bars” fire control radar and fly-by-wire systems, as well as AL-31FP engine module changes.
Despite the increase in funding for RMAF, salesmen remain cautious about prospects of replacement for 18 MiG-29N/NUBs delivered in 1995. “We know about the plans of the military, but we also hear about the economy slowdown and the respective position of the ministry of finance. Cost-effective upgrade solutions may win over,” Victor Komardin, deputy head of Russia’s Rosoboronexport arms sales agency, told AIN.
Guided by this knowledge, Rosoboronexport is offering an upgrade package to the RMAF’s 18-year-old MiGs, which will boost their capability and extend their lifetime to 40 years. Should the customer decide to replace the MiGs with newer aircraft, Russia is ready to supply additional quantities of advanced Su-30MKMs or even consider a request for a fifth-generation fighter. “We are keen to take part in any competition in Malaysia that is officially opened,” Komardin said. Other candidates to replace RMAF MiG-29s are the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen.
FILED UNDER: 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Duncan Lewis could not uncover what ABC 4 Corners did with less resources, and he is now to head ASIO?

NOTE

The appointment of Ducan Lewis as head of ASIO seems to underscore why form will always win over substance. 
While Lewis is highly credentialed and has experience as a field commander, that , as I have said before,does not make him a competent spy master.
His incompetence was described in an article on my blog published on  WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

People Smuggling: Did Australia's National Security Adviser learn anything in Malaysia?


The Sydney Morning Herald reported on April 25,2009:
WAVES of Australia-bound asylum seekers crossing from Malaysia to Indonesia have prompted the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to send the national security adviser, Duncan Lewis, to talk with Malaysian officials about counter measures.
Mr Lewis was accompanied by the head of Customs, Michael Carmody, and senior immigration and Australian Federal Police officers. Before leaving Kuala Lumpur yesterday, members of the delegation said the meetings with Malaysian officials were "positive".
"There has been agreement at a conceptual level for increased co-operation and engagement to combat people smuggling," one member said.


On February 1 2012 a boat capsized of the east coast of Malaysia.The wording of reports regarding that incident by Malaysian media, which are essentially state controlled, is instructive:

EIGHT foreigners drowned in Malaysian waters early yesterday while attempting to sneak into Australia to seek greener pastures.
District police chief Superintendent Che Mahazan Che Aik said when police reached Telok Semayong about 8am, they saw eight bodies washed ashore while further off, the 12 survivors were spotted in a group.
“We believe the foreigners were trying to leave the country illegally. They were using Malaysia as a spring-board,” he said.
Initial investigations also revealed that the passengers had paid US$8,000 (RM24,000) each for the journey from their country to Australia.
The 12 who were rescued were sent to the district police station to assist investigations while the bodies were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem.
(by Sam Bak Heng, 8 drown off Johor;New Straits Times,02 February 201)



Eight people drowned, 11 others were rescued while six more are still missing, all foreigners, after their boat capsized off Teluk Semayong waters, Sedili Besar, near Kota Tinggi Wednesday morning. Kota Tinggi Police Chief Supt Che Mahazan Che Aik said the boat was believed to be illegally ferrying men from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to a neigbouring country when the boat capsized.
(Report in the Borneo Post, 2 February 2012, quoting the national wire news service, Bernama)


Clearly, what Australia regards as "asylum seekers" Malaysia regards as opportunists.
As far as Malaysian police are concerned the main issue here is "illegal ferrying".
The persons being ferried are not being treated as asylum seekers, refugees, or anything of that sort but rather suspects or accomplices in a crime.


How then did Duncan Lewis and party come to the conclusion that "there has been agreement at a conceptual level"?
Lewis is now Secretary , Department of Defence, and the post of National Security Adviser has yet to be filled. Nevertheless, as NSA he was , in essence, the country's chief spy.
As Sally Neighbour put it:
The most recent initiative is the appointment by the former Rudd government of a National Security Adviser (NSA), who works out of the prime minister’s office and chairs a new National Intelligence Coordination Committee, to ensure the agencies are “closely aligned [and] effectively integrated”. Australia’s first NSA, the former SAS commander Brigadier Duncan Lewis.....
(the post) centralises control in the prime minister’s office ... the position is entirely outside the accountability umbrella of IGIS.
(Sally Neighbour, Hidden Agendas,The Monthly, 2010-11-04)

Despite these advantages, it does appear that the NSA learnt nothing in Malaysia, or of Malaysian attitudes to what Australia considers asylum seekers. Judging from the SMH report, and from the Gillard government's handling of the the "asylum seeker" issue it does appear that the present administration is light years away from understanding the problem of illegal migrants.Pretending that this simply another aspect of the white man's burden is an idea that has long passed its due date.

The full extent of Lewis's incompetence was laid bare by Sarah Ferguson's Captain Emad story, where she detailed the operations of a people smuggling ring headquartered just 15 minutes from the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur:
 
The ABC has revealed that people smugglers connected with a deadly disaster at sea are now residing in Australia under refugee visas. 
According to passengers on Emad's boat, in detention in Australia, Abdullah al Sharifi talked openly about his work as a smuggler with Captain Emad in Malaysia and Indonesia. 
"He said, 'I was with Captain Emad in Malaysia. He brought me here for free and we work together at this smuggling business'," passenger Rahim said.

A different life

It is not clear what Captain Emad told Australian immigration officials to convince them he was a genuine refugee in need of protection.
What is known is that before he set up shop in Indonesia, he had spent a large portion of his life in downtown Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
His legitimate business in Malaysia was perfume. By 2005 he owned four perfume shops in Kuala Lumpur and he still owns at least one

END 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Andrew Constance Could Not Be Trusted With Fines, Should Not Be Trusted With Treasury

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The new NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance's  methods of improving NSW  state revenue at all costs,  disregarding even the law,  while  in his former finance and services portfolio, makes him unsuitable to be put in charge of the more senior Treasury portfolio.

As Minister For Finance Mr Constance sought to increase state revenue by enforcing parking fines. In 2012 alone he added $ 177 million to state revenues by imposing parking fines on apparent over-stayers at parks and hospitals, hitting the sick, elderly , and students.
When questioned on that strategy  Mr Constance said:

"If a driver believes they have been fined incorrectly, they can seek a review from the Office of State Revenue (OSR)."

However, there is evidence that the OSR , led by the Commissioner For Fines, Tony Newbury, and Mr Constance, appear to have in place a scheme where reviews are routinely rejected and the appellants told instead to seek redress via the legal system , in the expectation that the costs of legal challenge will discourage doing so, and the fine paid without challenge.

In a recent incident where this writer was involved, an attempt was successfully made to make Mr Constance and Mr Newbury reveal  their methods when  justifying  a fine.Email queries were sent Mr Newbury , Mr Constance , and then Premier, O'Farrell.

In response, Mr Newbury, in a letter sent on behalf of Constance and O'Farrell, admitted that:

a) they could not detail the actual facts of the offence upon which their penalty was premised.
They had earlier determined to justify the penalty on a fabricated story which involved  a child that was supposed to be the driver's , the child climbing out of the car,and  child walking then walking towards the car ; all of which was false.

b)  there was disagreement between the time of offence stated in the penalty notice, and their own photographs which they furnished as evidence of the crime. In fact , the times were clearly transposed, raising the issue of whether the time of offence had been deliberately misstated to justify the offence.
Nevertheless, this was explained away as a failure to adjust their cameras for daylight saving, but then;

c) could not say  how the time of offence was actually determined

Given that most fines, including the one described above, are for a few hundred dollars and given that legal fees are usually upward of a thousand, most fines are paid without any legal challenge, regardless of the facts.Indeed judges are angered by litigants who disregard  "commercial realities".
However, Mr Constance does not seem to have realized that being a politician, the court of public opinion is what really matters to his future. If the best he can do is cheat to raise public revenue, it is unlikely that he possesses the skills necessary to balance the state's books.
END


Thursday, January 9, 2014

An example of the debate among Malays illustrates why MGG Pillai was heard, and today's non-Malay commentators are not

NOTE 

While many would be aware that MGG Pillai and I had , shall we say, a major difference of opinion in the last few years of his life, I must say that he was not afraid to participate in debates, private and public , like the ones described below by Rocky Atan. 
He did take sides, and that did become an issue, but he was at least brave enough to do so.
True, he started out as a journalist when the races were less divided,and the leadership more inclusive, but then , he continued to speak and write as he did despite the changing environment.Doing so, he   remained  relevant till the day he died.
On the other hand, today's non-Malay commentators seem more interested in making a play of having "controversial" views,and then of hiding, or remaining quiet, for fear that "they" are listening, thus giving themselves a degree of importance they simply do not have. Put in another way, the irrelevant are made even more irrelevant by their ego. 


Thursday, January 09, 2014


The photograph that spooked Annie and some others

Got a few calls to ask me if "you bloggers" are revolting against the PM. Even prominent businessman TF was concerned enough to call me for the first time in over a year: "Why are the bloggers whacking Najib ... except you?" The latest caller, a little lady called Annie, said she became particularly worried after reading Apanama's Najib Worse Than Pak Lah? People familiar with the Malaysian blogosphere would equate Apanama with critical-but-polite postings, a cool head among today's very temperamental and crazily critical English-driven bloggers. But Apanama's latest posting was so hard-hitting it seems that even the punching machine Syed Akbar Ali was quoting him line for line.  
"And, aiyooo,  my dear Rocky did you see the photograph published by OutSyed The Box's!?" I promised her I'd check out the two blogs as soon as I get back to my den from a dinner with some consultants. 
And, ah, no wonder Annie was spooked! Here's the picture Syed Akbar published in his posting Apanama makan Roti Teloq - Ampat Biji!! 
Superstitious people avoid threesome shots
People would read all kinds of things upon seeing this photograph and you can't blame them if they do. But I'd tell Annie that things are not always what they appear to be. Tun Daim Zainuddin, the man flanked by OutSyed The Box and Apanama in the picture, engages bloggers every now and then over breakfast. He would even invite some of the mainstream editors from time to time. But no, Daim's not the "unseen hand" some people think is behind recent incessant attacks on Najib, his wife, and family and friends. Or on Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, for that matter (see Syed Akbar's posting on the former nemesis h e r e).
I have had the privilege of joining the Tun for roti canai in some very public places where we exchanged stories and gossips. Daim is an excellent story teller. The last time I was invited to breakfast with Tun Daim, I was late by a few minutes. After I had taken my allocated seat next to the former Finance Minister, my ex boss AKJ asked those who were pro-Najib to move over to Daim's side, with me and Syed Akbar (who was seated to Daim's left), while those who were not for the PM would sit opposite Daim, with AKJ. Just like a school debate. A lof of things were said in jest like that but we did talk about the serious stuff too. 
When we're not meeting Daim, we bloggers would be meeting anyone who wants to engage us. But not everyone wants to engage us. 
As for Apanama's hard-hitting posting, it is indeed a reflection of what a lot of people feel. Tan Sri Zainal Rampak, the trade union leader, thinks Najib is not getting a true picture of what's happening on the ground and has asked me to "please tell Datuk Seri Najib to go down to the people."  
Apanama wants Najib to stop talking about transformation plans and start transforming. The PM can sack some aides and reshuffle his Cabinet, for a start.
"We need men and women of character, capability and common sense to steer this nation forward ... some of your cabinet members have become laughing stocks. Quite a number of the better cabinet members are finding it hard to hold their heads up in public because of the clowns among them."  
But please do read what Apanama has to say right to the end of his posting so that you won't miss the message:
But time is running out, Mr Prime Minister

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Djoko Suyanto shows his hand, and falters: Abbott may have been handed another advantage

Djoko Suyanto , who only last week made clear that Dewi Fortuna  had not the authority to speak on the matter of boat people, has since revealed that it is he who is directing  Marty Natalagewa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their handling of the spying issue.


In doing so, however , Djoko may have faltered in his directive to the Ministry 
requesting that it consider reducing the number of Indonesian intelligence officers 
at its Canberra post. Given the extent to which the Indonesians rely on HUMINT, it is 
difficult to understand how Djoko's strategy would advantage Indonesia.



Menko Polhukam: isu penyadapan akan ganggu hubungan Indonesia-Australia

Senin, 18 November 2013 19:24 WIB | 6263 Views
Pewarta: Syaiful Hakim
Jakarta (ANTARA News)  - Menteri Koordinator bidang Politik, Hukum dan Keamanan (Menko Polhukam), Djoko Suyanto, mengatakan Kementerian Luar Negeri akan memanggil Dubes RI di Canberra ke Jakarta untuk "konsultasi" dan mengkaji kerja sama pertukaran informasi antar pemerintah RI dan Australia, termasuk penugasan pejabat Australia di Kedubes Australia di Jakarta.

Djoko dalam keterangan tertulisnya di Jakarta, Senin, mengaku isu penyadapan kepada para pejabat pemerintah Indonesia oleh Australia akan mengganggu hubungan bilateral kedua negara.

Menko Polhukam, mengatakan telah melakukan langkah koordinasi dengan Menteri Luar Negeri Marty Natalegawa terkait berita penyadapan para pejabat Pemeritah Indonesia oleh Australia di media Australia.

Langkah-langkah yang dilakukan, kata Djoko, pertama bahwa pihak Kementerian Luar Negeri akan menghubungi Menlu Australia Julie Bishop untuk menyampaikan bahwa isu tersebut akan membawa dampak yang tidak baik terhadap hubungan bilateral Indonesia dan Australia.

Kedua, lanjut Djoko, meminta Australia untuk menyampaikan official and public explanationmengenai komitmen untuk tidak melakukan penyadapan.

Ketiga, Kemlu akan memanggil  Dubes RI di  Canberra ke Jakarta untuk "konsultasi" dan mengkaji kerja sama pertukaran informasi antar pemerintah RI dan Australia, termasuk penugasan pejabat Australia di Kedubes Australia di Jakarta.

"Kemlu juga akan mereview seluruh kerja sama pertukaran informasi dan kerja sama lainnya dengan Australia," tegas Menko Polhukam.

Seperti diberitakan media, intelijen negeri Kangguru mencoba menguping pembicaraan telepon yang dilakukan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dan istrinya serta beberapa menteri senior.

Dokumen rahasia yang dibocorkan oleh Edward Snowden dan diterima media penyiaran Australia Broadcasting Corporation serta harian The Guardian itu menyebutkan Presiden dan sembilan orang terdekatnya sebagai target pengintipan.

Pengungkapan tersebut muncul saat hubungan bilateral dua negara tengah meruncing terkait tudingan mata-mata sebelumnya dan isu mengenai penanganan manusia perahu yang melewati Indonesia menuju Australia.

Dokumen-dokumen tersebut menunjukkan bahwa badan intelijen elektronik Australia, Defence Signal Directorate, melacak aktivitas telepon seluler Yudhoyono selama 15 hari pada Agustus 2009 saat Kevin Rudd dari Partai Buruh menjabat sebagai perdana menteri.

Dalam daftar target pengintipan tersebut juga terdapat nama Wakil Presiden Boediono yang pekan lalu berada di Australia, mantan wapres Yusuf Kalla, jurubicara bidang luar negeri, menteri bidang keamanan serta menteri komunikasi dan informasi.

ABC mengatakan salah satu dokumen itu berjudul "3G impact and update" yang memetakan upaya intelijen Australia untuk mengimbangi pertumbuhan teknologi 3G di Indonesia dan seluruh kawasan Asia Tenggara.

Terdapat sejumlah pilihan pemintasan dan direkomendasikan untuk memilih salah satu diantaranya untuk diaplikasikan kepada target --dalam hal ini pemimpin Indonesia, demikian dilaporkan ABC.

Pengungkapan terakhir dokumen Snowden tersebut muncul hanya beberapa minggu setelah adanya laporan yang mengklaim bahwa pos-pos diplomatik Australia di luar negeri, termasuk Jakarta, terlibat dalam jaringan luas pengintaian yang dipimpin AS, yang memantik reaksi kemarahan dari Menteri Luar Negeri Indonesia Marty Natalegawa.

Laporan ini kemudian disusul dengan laporan lain dari the Guardian awal bulan ini bahwa Australia dan Amerika Serikat menjalankan operasi pengintaian bersama terhadap Indonesia saat digelarnya pertemuan iklim PBB di Bali pada 2007.

Editor: Unggul Tri Ratomo
COPYRIGHT © 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Aus-Indo Spying Issue: Indonesia proposed a compromise that would allow status quo ante

On 15 November 2013 the Bahasa Indonesia detikNews reported a press conference in Melbourne called by Indonesian Vice President Boediono. The press conference was called after a visit to Canberra where he had met with Tony Abbott. Boediono said that the issue of Australian spying on Indonesia  had been raised, and that he, Boediono ,  had proposed  a compromise. 

The fact that Boediono proposed the compromise suggests that
Indonesia has more to lose from any disruption to existing spying and intelligence arrangements.This is evident from a translation of this excerpt from the detikNews report:




Secara resmi, Indonesia meminta agar ada perbaikan dalam proses pengumpulan informasi sehingga tidak merugikan kedua negara dan merusak hubungan yang sudah terjalin baik selama ini. Abbott merespons baik terhadap permintaan tersebut.

"Ide untuk ke depan ada suatu sistem di mana informasi yang dikumpulkan tidak dipakai untuk hal-hal merugikan kedua belah pihak. Nampaknya beliau tidak menolak. Artinya beliau sendiri pandangannya ke arah situ," jelasnya





Translated :
Officially , Indonesia has asked that intelligence obtained not be used in
a manner that might be detrimental to either country . Abbott responded positively to that suggestion.



" The idea going forward is for a system where information collected will not be used in any way that will harm either country. Abbott did not object. I take that to mean that his thinking is along the same lines" , he (Boediono) explained.
 

The Australia News Network reported similar but omitted reference to the fact that Indonesia had suggested a compromise:


Indonesian vice president Boediono plays down asylum seeker and spying disputes with Australia

Updated Sun 17 Nov 2013, 10:40pm AEDT

Vice president raises espionage concerns

Dr Boediono said he raised concerns with Mr Abbott about allegations the Australian embassy in Jakarta had been used for espionage.
"It is a public concern in Indonesia. And therefore we should find some joint ways to allay public concern," he said.
"Of course, we didn't go into details, but the willingness is there to look to the future with cooperation that will not risk the interests of each parties."
In an interview with the ABC's 7.30 following his meeting with Dr Boediono, Mr Abbott would not comment directly on the reports, but noted spying is common practice in international affairs.
"All countries, all governments, gather information. That's hardly a surprise," Mr Abbott said.
"One of the things that I've offered to do today in my discussions with the Indonesian vice president is to elevate our level of information sharing, because I want the people of Indonesia to know that everything, everything that we do is to help Indonesia as well as to help Australia."
Dr Boediono would not be drawn on whether Indonesia had ever spied on Australia.
"I certainly cannot guarantee anything about that kind of thing," Dr Boediono said.
"Certainly, as part of the Indonesian government, whatever we do in our embassy in any country will follow international law."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-17/an-boediono-feature-james/5097288

Jumat, 15/11/2013 16:07 WIB

Laporan dari Australia

Wapres Boediono Paparkan Pembicaraannya dengan PM Abbott soal Penyadapan

Rachmadin Ismail - detikNews
Melbourne - Wakil Presiden Boediono menyampaikan langsung keberatan Indonesia terhadap penyadapan intelejen kepada Perdana Menteri Australia Tony Abbott. Apa reaksi Abbott menanggapinya?

Di dalam sesi jumpa pers bersama wartawan Indonesia di hotel Hyatt Melbourne, Australia, Jumat (15/11/2013), Boediono menjelaskan hasil kunjungan kerjanya selama lima hari di Australia yang agendanya adalah kerjasama pendidikan, riset dan budaya.

Namun, dalam pertemuan dengan Abbott, isu penyadapan oleh Australia ikut dibahas. Secara langsung, Boediono mengemukakan keberatan pemerintah dan masyarakat RI terhadap tindakan tersebut.

"Ini concern publik dari kita dan tidak akan hilang begitu saja," kata Boediono.

Secara resmi, Indonesia meminta agar ada perbaikan dalam proses pengumpulan informasi sehingga tidak merugikan kedua negara dan merusak hubungan yang sudah terjalin baik selama ini. Abbott merespons baik terhadap permintaan tersebut.

"Ide untuk ke depan ada suatu sistem di mana informasi yang dikumpulkan tidak dipakai untuk hal-hal merugikan kedua belah pihak. Nampaknya beliau tidak menolak. Artinya beliau sendiri pandangannya ke arah situ," jelasnya
.

Menurut wapres, bakal ada pembahasan lebih lanjut soal sistem itu. "Sementara ini belum ada yang konkrit, nanti ditindaklanjuti dengan semacam negosiasi mengani sistemnya," tambahnya.

Isu penyadapan mengemuka setelah Edward Snowden, mantan pegawai CIA membocorkannya. Media Australia mengangkat isu ini dan direspons keras oleh Indonesia.

Hingga kini, pemerintah Australia tak membantah atau membenarkan soal aktivitas itu. Saat diwawancarai ABC Australia, Abbott hanya mengatakan semua negara menggali informasi, namun bukan untuk kejahatan. Informasi yang digalinya dari Indonesia juga untuk kepentingan membantu Indonesia sendiri.



Ikuti berbagai peristiwa penting hari ini hanya di "Reportase Sore" Trans TV pukul 16.30 WIB