I have an opinion piece at The Conversation where I analyse the Malaysian side of the Australian refugee story from several perspectives. Mainly, I ask what has actually driven the Malaysian government and Prime Minister Najib Razak to submit himself and his government to such intense scrutiny and, more importantly, can a country where its enforcement agencies are laws to themselves and a society that looks down on immigrants (legal and illegal, including refugees), have the ability and willingness to defend the rights of refugees? I go on to suggest that:
…what is puzzling is the fact that Najib would accept this trade-off between a higher profile for himself among government leaders for public humiliation. It is inevitable that due to the intense media scrutiny around this deal, Malaysia’s atrocious human rights record will be put under the spot light.
If this is the principle reason Malaysia signed such a deal, then whose objectives were really being considered – Najib’s personal needs or the country?
Update: I elaborate further on the two key questions in this interview on 3CR Breakfast Radio Show.
Waiting for New Mandala commentators to show their views on this story…..(or they are not interested in something ‘closer to home’ ?).
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There is a good article at East Asia Forum on this issue.
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I had wondered why the Malaysian government was so eager for this refugee swap and I think I’ve found the answer in this article in The Australian.
This also fits into another programme that the Malaysian government is currently undertaking, the illegal worker amnesty programme as reported by The Malaysian Mirror.
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East Asia Forum has an interesting article on how Australia can possibly develop an effective refugee policy.
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Malaysia’s Prime Minister finally elaborates about how the Malaysia Solution will break the traffickers business model.
I wonder why if he is so concerned about the refugees, that he can’t sign the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or enact local laws to protect refugees.
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Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Najib Razak and the Malaysia Solution comes under scrutiny from Paul Bongiorno of Ten (video here).
The Prime Minister noted that Malaysia will consider signing the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees and affirmed that Malaysia will promote human rights.
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A pertinent analysis by a respected former Malaysian ambassador on the state of Malaysia’s foreign policy:
My question remains, what has brought about these decline in Malaysian institutions?
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