ID :
190708
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 14:19
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http://m.oananews.org//node/190708
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Malaysia dismisses Morrison visit
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 23 - A senior Malaysian government minister has dismissed coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison's visit to his country as empty opposition.
Mr Morrison is scheduled to spend four days in Malaysia from Friday, attempting to highlight the shortcomings of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's controversial people-swap deal.
Ms Gillard announced the plan to send up to 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 already processed refugees almost eight weeks ago - but still has not finalised it.
The opposition has strongly criticised Malaysia's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees but Mr Morrison on Thursday said his argument was with the Australian and not the Malaysian government.
"I'm not there to second-guess what their laws are and how they deal with issues inside their borders," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
"The reason I'm going to Malaysia is because the Australian government has said they want to send 800 people to live in those circumstances."
But Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein belittled Mr Morrison's visit.
"They can come and I believe they will oppose," he was quoted as saying on the Free Malaysia Today website.
"That is the job of the opposition.
"Just opposing is one thing, but the other thing is what is their solution? Opposing for the sake of opposing doesn't solve the problem."
The Gillard government has been saying for several weeks the deal would be sealed "within weeks".
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen on Thursday said the government was "at a very advanced stage of the final discussions".
Mr Morrison said suggestions he might interfere with the deal during his trip were rubbish.
"Members of parliament travel overseas all the time," Mr Morrison said.
"For the prime minister to suggest anything otherwise is offensive and hysterical."
Meanwhile, the federal government has trumpeted the passage through parliament of new laws that aim to stop the flow of money from Australia to people smugglers overseas.
The Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill tightens the regulation of remittance dealers such as Western Union so authorities will be alerted to suspicious transactions.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the laws would help limit the risk that remittance dealers unwittingly facilitate people smuggling.
"People smugglers need money to launch their dangerous ventures and we're committed to stopping them from getting the funds they require to ply their illegal trade," Mr O'Connor said.
Mr Morrison is scheduled to spend four days in Malaysia from Friday, attempting to highlight the shortcomings of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's controversial people-swap deal.
Ms Gillard announced the plan to send up to 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 already processed refugees almost eight weeks ago - but still has not finalised it.
The opposition has strongly criticised Malaysia's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees but Mr Morrison on Thursday said his argument was with the Australian and not the Malaysian government.
"I'm not there to second-guess what their laws are and how they deal with issues inside their borders," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
"The reason I'm going to Malaysia is because the Australian government has said they want to send 800 people to live in those circumstances."
But Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein belittled Mr Morrison's visit.
"They can come and I believe they will oppose," he was quoted as saying on the Free Malaysia Today website.
"That is the job of the opposition.
"Just opposing is one thing, but the other thing is what is their solution? Opposing for the sake of opposing doesn't solve the problem."
The Gillard government has been saying for several weeks the deal would be sealed "within weeks".
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen on Thursday said the government was "at a very advanced stage of the final discussions".
Mr Morrison said suggestions he might interfere with the deal during his trip were rubbish.
"Members of parliament travel overseas all the time," Mr Morrison said.
"For the prime minister to suggest anything otherwise is offensive and hysterical."
Meanwhile, the federal government has trumpeted the passage through parliament of new laws that aim to stop the flow of money from Australia to people smugglers overseas.
The Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill tightens the regulation of remittance dealers such as Western Union so authorities will be alerted to suspicious transactions.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the laws would help limit the risk that remittance dealers unwittingly facilitate people smuggling.
"People smugglers need money to launch their dangerous ventures and we're committed to stopping them from getting the funds they require to ply their illegal trade," Mr O'Connor said.
