Xenophon was never included in Aussie delegation, says minister’s office

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon was not included in the bipartisan parliamentary delegation invited to meet with Malaysian officials this week, an official from de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz’s office confirmed today.

This comes despite Xenophon’s claim in the Australian media today that his visit was “not unofficial”.

The official said the delegation had only included Moore MP Dr Mal Washer, Senator John Williams and Hindmarsh MP Steve Georganas, according to the SMS invite forwarded to Nazri from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s office some time back.

“Only three persons were listed. They never communicated about Xenophon(picture)... he was never on the list of individuals who were supposed to arrive here for the meeting,” the minister’s official said when contacted here.

A copy of the SMS invite from Abdul Malek Hussin, Anwar’s parliamentary affairs chief co-ordinator, was forwarded to The Malaysian Insider this morning.

“Chief.. ada tamu from australia nak jumpa Tuesday. Dah cal azlinda for appointment. 1) Dr. Mal Washer MP of Moore., 2) Senator John Williams (Nationals Whip in the Senate and Senator for New South Wales) 3) Mr. Steve Georganas MP (Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and MP for Hindmarsh),” the SMS said.

[Translation: Chief... there are guests from Australia who would like to meet on Tuesday. I’ve called Azlinda for an appointment. 1) Dr. Mal Washer MP of Moore., 2) Senator John Williams (Nationals Whip in the Senate and Senator for New South Wales) 3) Mr. Steve Georganas MP (Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and MP for Hindmarsh)].

Nazri, who is also the parliamentary affairs minister, is often referred to as “Chief”.

“This was the SMS on the meeting that was agreed on,” the source from the minister’s office said.

Earlier today, Xenophon was quoted in the Australian media as insisting that his trip to Malaysia to review the country’s electoral system was official.

Xenophon, who was deported from Malaysia last Saturday for posing a “security risk”, claimed that Nationals Senator Williams and Liberal MP Washer had received approval from Australia’s Special Minister of State Gary Gray to use their study leave for the trip.

“It’s not unofficial,” Xenophon was quoted today as saying by Australia’s ABC radio.

“It was a meeting that was going to result in a report being provided to the federal Parliament in relation to the trip,” he added.

The Australian delegation, including Labor MP Georganas, has since cancelled their trip.

Xenophon had arrived in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday to call on Anwar, Nazri and Election Commission (EC) officials this week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad explained on Saturday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act as 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.

But the senator’s deportation has again placed Malaysia in the international spotlight for its purportedly harsh approach in handling criticisms against its administration.

Several Australian politicians today denounced Xenophon’s expulsion, joining a chorus of condemnation from Carr and former Australiam Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. 

Labor MP Michael Danby, who is the chairman of Australia’s parliamentary joint committee on foreign affairs, said that Putrajaya’s act undermined Malaysia’s “pretence to be a democratic law-based society”, according to Australia’s national newspaper The Australian.

Former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was also quoted as saying that Malaysian authorities made a “big mistake” in ejecting Xenophon and that the move would reinforce negative perceptions in Australia.

Australian radio ABC Adelaide quoted South Australian Labor Senator Penny Wong today as saying that Canberra had made it clear that the way Xenophon was treated was “not appropriate.”

“I think the second issue is what is our proper role in relation to Malaysia’s domestic politics. It is rare for Australia to engage, particularly with mature democracies, around their internal democratic process,” said Wong.

Australian media quoted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday as saying that her government would continue to press Malaysia for explanations after failing to convince authorities to let Xenophon stay in the country. 

Carr reportedly said yesterday that he had already spoken with his Malaysian counterpart to express his surprise and disappointment at Xenophon’s deportation, but hoped the incident would not cool relations between both countries.