Australian Newspaper Calls Xenophon Foolish and Cynically Self-Promoting

Post By: Biswardi

Source By: Greg Sheridan

“NICK Xenophon's actions regarding Malaysia are either foolish or cynically self-promoting in a year in which he faces re-election,” wrote Greg Sheridan in The Australian.

Mind you, this is in an Australian news portal. Obviously not run by UMNO or the Malaysian government.

While many may regard Senator Xenophon as a sort of fighter for democracy, others regard him as a troublemaking outsider meddling with the affairs of a sovereign nation.

Last year, Xenophon landed in hot soup when he was explicitly involved in the Bersih 3.0 rally. His foolish act to deliberately support the Bersih cause showed that he had no respect for the Malaysian Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 that specifically mentions in Section 4(2)(a) "a person commits an offence if being a non-citizen, he organizes or participates in an assembly and should be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit."

Let's not forget that he also broke the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. Article 41 Paragraph 1 clearly states, "It is the duty of all persons enjoying the privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state and have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the State."

Senator Nick Xenophon is deluded into thinking that the Malaysian government is an oppressive draconian regime. There is simply one good reason behind this thinking: He is a friend of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's biggest liar and political chameleon.

December last year Xenophon was embarrassed in his own senate when Australian foreign minister Bob Carr rejected his motion to send election observers to Malaysia. Bob Carr immediately responded that it would be inappropriate for Australia to interfere with Malaysia's elections just as it would be "for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run."

Greg Sheridan shared Carr's insight in The Australian. He wrote, "Xenophon wants the Australian government to send electoral monitors to the forthcoming Malaysian election. This idea is stupid and impractical."

"Why isn't he in Vietnam, leading protests outside the jails where Buddhists and Catholics are incarcerated? Why isn't he in Cambodia, inquiring about the elections that keep Hun Sen permanently in power?" added the journalist.

Malaysia is one of the most democratic and freewheeling nations in Southeast Asia. It is redundant to ask, "how do you explain the ruling coalition losing its two-third majority and 5 states?" but I will keep on asking. Because there are people out there who easily forget.

Malaysia has every right to deny Xenophon entry to this peaceful and prosperous country. Immigration Department Director General stated that Xenophon was denied entry because he broke Malaysian Immigration Law during his last visit. The Malaysian government took no action on him the last time, why should we as a sovereign nation entertain this maverick Australian politician the second time?

Respect our laws, and we will respect you. Right now, for Malaysia, you are a persona non grata, Nick. In other words, you are not welcome here.