ABC Australia's "soft diplomacy" aspirations at odds with prior Labor policy

As reported in THE AUSTRALIAN:
ABC managing director Mark Scott last night proposed a dramatic expansion of his organisation's services into Africa, Latin America and Asia, saying it would lift Australia's profile.
"We have an important role to play and we have to use all the tools at our disposal to continue to do so," Mr Scott said in a speech in Sydney.
"One of these tools is soft diplomacy -- using the media to put our nation's culture, views and policies on show."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/pm-propaganda-not-abc-role-nick-minchin/story-e6frgczf-1225794871714

But what of this inconvenient truth:



By mid-1991, after Senator Evans had acknowledged the insensitive actions of a "number of different groups in Australia - some in the media, some in Parliament, and some in pressure groups in the wider community," Mahathir agreed that the Australian Government should not necessarily be blamed for the failings of the media. According to Mahathir, "They fabricate stories...I think they have breached the limit of press freedom...I am talking about the Australian Press, not the Government...Mahathir felt nevertheless that the Australian Government could not absolve itself completely ofresponsibility for the media....

As the price for restoring normal relations, Mahathir believed he had extracted from the Australian Government " a guarantee to distance itself from what was done by several bodies in that country, and to take a disinterested attitude in various matters." This understanding was put to the test in early 1992 with the release of the Australian film Turtle Reach, which depicted a massacre of Vietnamese refugees...


Senator Evans announced that the Australian Government would dissociate itself from the film. The scenes depicted were "simply not accurate historicalrepresentations." Australia's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Funnel, said this statement saved the Malaysia-Australia relationship: "I believe the ties between the two Governments have been preserved due to this action" .
( See http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/391 & http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/391/1/adt-NU1999.0024prince03.pdf)

The Vincent Tan -Malaysiakini deal: Who says money cannot buy everything...

According to THE EDGE:
Popular Internet news website Malaysiakini.com is in talks on a tie-up with payment systems operator MOL AccessPortal Bhd, a company under the stable of Tan Sri Dat Seri (x9) Vincent Tan Chee Yioun.

Sources said the discussions did not discount the possibility of an exchange of equity and both parties were currently negotiating a deal that would be of mutual benefit.
(http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/152223-mol-malaysiakini-in-talks.html)

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini continues to solicit donations (http://www.manage4me.com/donation/mkini/).It is unclear how donors will benefit from a share swap or any other deal involving the shareholders.

Malaysiakini.com is owned and operated by Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, a private limited company incorporated in July 1999.

Mkini is a digital media company, focusing on Internet and other interactive media technology and information services.


The Directors of the company are the founders of Malaysiakini.com Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran.

Mkini's paid up capital is RM 4,514,939. The directors each hold 30.1% equity in the company. Venture fund Media Development Loan Fund holds 29.1%, whereas the balance 10.6% equity is held by individuals, staff, former staff or retained in the Employee Share Incentive Scheme.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/pages/general/corporate.htm

It is important to note, as is explained below, that the founder directors, Steven Gan and Premesh Cahndran were journalist at THE SUN, which was then, as it is now, owned by that doyen of free speech, Tan Sri Dato Seri(x9) Vincent Tan Chee Yioun.
Given their 30.1% stakes, the founding directors would have contributed RM 1.3544817 MILLION , or RM 677,240.85 each-an outstanding effort given what journalist were paid then at THE SUN.

Industry sources said although Malaysiakini has done well to establish itself, after 10 years it barely makes money (http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/152223-mol-malaysiakini-in-talks.html).

In any case, putting, money, that tainted thing, aside, the following raises questions as to what this deal entails:

Steven Gan, as quoted by PBS, had this to say of the Malaysian Establishment, and THE SUN:
The mainstream media is either completely or directly owned by political parties in Malaysia," Gan told the CPJ in October, "so in that sense, there is very little room for editors to … [criticize] the governing political parties."
For years, as a print journalist, Gan butted against Malaysia's tough press restrictions with investigative reports detailing alleged government abuses of power.
As a reporter for Malaysian daily newspaper The Sun, Gan wrote a series of reports in 1995 on the deaths of 59 inmates in a migrant worker detention camp. When Sun editors refused to print his stories for fear of arousing government anger, Gan turned his articles over to a human rights group for publication.
In 1996, Gan was one of several journalists arrested while covering the Second Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor -- a meeting in Malaysia of activists from Asian nations to discuss the growing unrest in the Indonesian territory, which gained its independence in 1999.
Gan attempted to chronicle his five days in captivity for The Sun, but its editors refused to publish his reports. Gan resigned in protest.


In November 1999, he started Malaysiakini.com with $100,000 and a staff of four journalists. Now, a year later, Gan's staff has increased to 14 and his site claims nearly 100,000 visitors a day.
Throughout its first year, Malaysiakini.com reported on deception in local newspapers as well as misconduct in the Malaysian judicial system. It also provided in-depth coverage of the November 1999 elections that extended Mahathir's nearly 20-year rule as prime minister.
The Web site's controversial reports have been noted by the BBC, The Washington Post and the International Herald Tribune.
Based just outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiakini.com's staff resides in Malaysia, but its computer server is based in the U.S. -- placing it far away from future government restriction. The site is funded by grants from the Southeast Asia Press Alliance and advertising revenue.
Although his publication has, so far, survived government intervention, Gan said he is still in a risky business.
"I think the government can shut us down anytime," he said. "They can come into our office and take all our computers. We are prepared for that eventuality."

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/ipf/gan.html

As one former Malaysian journalist asked, "what of all that talk about the corrupt Establishment and its crooked judges, politicians and cronies?"

Malaysian Government's F1 fantasy a winner in Norfolk;Najib contradicted;Needs to explain gift to Tony Fernandes

Readers can decide for themselves from the reports below if it is wrong to conclude that the Malaysian taxpayer has and will for time to come, pay for Tony Fernandes's F1 Team. Readers should note that the team's "Sepang HQ" is still in its "planning stages", a euphemism , readers will agree , for money that is unlikely (and God willing will never have) to be spent.

Malaysian taxpayers and others who might dispute the fact that it is Tony Fernandes's team are simply referred to this entry on the official Formula One website and the publicity that it has generated:

Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd
Team Name: Lotus F1 Team
Country: Malaysia
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9934.html

According to Malaysian PM Najib:

This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit-stop team consists of Malaysians,” he said.

Asked on the budget and the total investment by the Government, Najib said: “The Malaysian government’s investment is through Proton.”

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/15/nation/20090915181208&sec=nation
According to reports out of
Norfolk:
NEWS that the iconic Lotus name will be returning to the Formula 1 starting grid next year is not only welcome news for British motorsport but also for the Norfolk economy. Adam Gretton assesses the impact on the local supply chain and advanced engineering companies.

....with Malaysian-based financial backers and the future design, research and development set to take place at Malaysia's Sepang circuit, the resurrected Lotus team will have a more international feel when it returns to the pinnacle of motor racing in March.

Officials from the newly formed Lotus F1 Team yesterday said that the car would still have strong Norfolk connections, despite the Asian influence and a need to bring in expertise from across the UK.

Adverts are set to appear in the motoring and local press in the coming days for a range of jobs at the 50,000sq ft centre, which was built by Toyota, but was never used for F1 development.

Ten miles away, the Hethel Engineering Centre, which is a hub of start-up companies, has also submitted a list of 10 East Anglian businesses which would benefit from joining the Lotus F1 Team supply chain.
“It is nothing but good news and it is positive in every respect and will create jobs and sustain jobs. It is building on all of the motorsport heritage, the Lotus name, and skills. We have to accept that we are in a global market and the main investment is coming from Malaysia, but there is a strong link with Norfolk and the best of Norfolk will be utilised,” he said.

Norfolk-born technical director Mike Gascoyne said he was keen to employ local people at the team's base at the Racing Technologies Norfolk (RTN) centre at Hingham. He added that the new car would also feature Norfolk-made components and parts by making use of the wealth of expertise from the county's advanced engineering companies.

http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/content/dissmercury/news/story.aspx?brand=DMAOnline&category=news&tBrand=DMAOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED17%20Sep%202009%2008%3A53%3A58%3A163

The Lotus F1 Team has been set up under the holding company 1Malaysia F1 Team, a joint venture between the government and Malaysian businesses, with support from the Motorsports Association of Malaysia, Naza Motor and

Air Asia, plus Malaysian universities.

The team has agreed an engine supply deal with UK-based Cosworth and a wide variety of technical partnerships, including those with Berkshire-based Xtrac
http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED16%20Sep%202009%2007%3A36%3A15%3A583

Was Godwin Grech pressured to create an email record to contradict his statements of 4 June 2009?

As reported on 4 June 2009 by the ABC :
Treasury official Godwin Grech told a parliamentary hearing the Prime Minister's Office and the Treasurer's Office made representations to him on behalf of a car dealer about the Government's multi-million dollar trust set up to support dealerships.

The trust, known as OzCar, offers finance to car dealerships that have been affected by the global credit crunch.

Mr Grech would not confirm if the calls were about Mr Grant, but said they were straightforward inquiries.

"Both offices became aware of a situation facing a particular car dealer and they simply wanted - as you would expect a normal ministerial office to do - refer it to the relevant part of the bureaucracy to help the ... car dealer," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2589652.htm

As reported by THE AUSTRALIAN on 20 June 2009:


When Senator Abetz asked Mr Grech whether Dr Charlton, whom the government claims Mr Turnbull threatened at Wednesday night's Midwinter Ball, was the source of the key email, the more senior Treasury official, David Martine, replied.

"Mr Grech has indicated that he is unsure about any correspondence from the PM's office and, as I've indicated a number of times, we've conducted thorough searches, including Mr Grech himself, and we have not located any correspondence or emails," Mr Martine said.

He said he couldn't find any such documents after the event, and was certain there were no oral communications.

An extensive search by Treasury officials has failed to unearth an email from Mr Rudd's office to Treasury and Mr Grech could tell the inquiry only that it was his "recollection".

The Prime Minister's office last night produced an email from Mr Grech to various senior officials in both Treasury and the Treasurer's office, in which he denied that there was "correspondence" and "communication" between the Prime Minister's office and Treasury on Mr Grant's application.
Mr Grech said in his email to Treasury heads sent yesterday morning that News Limited reporter Steve Lewis contacted him four times on Thursday about the story and he denied any communication with the Prime Minister's office over the matter.

"When Lewis called the fourth time at around 8pm, he again asked about the PMO communication; I again denied it," Mr Grech wrote in the email.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25663216-5013871,00.html

Australian Defence Recruitment,Chandler MacLeod,& Paul Keating

As previously reported the Australian Defence Recruitment contract has been awarded to Chandler Mcleod,a company that has recently reported both operating cash flow and cash balance deficits. (see story below).

On 9 September 2008, just 2 months after the award of the contract Chandler sought and obtained an injection of funds from Lazard Carnegie Wylie, who are now Chandler's largest shareholder. As stated by Chandler:


SYDNEY: 9 September 2008 - Chandler Macleod Limited (“Chandler Macleod” or the
“Company”) today welcomed Lazard Carnegie Wylie Investment Management Pty Ltd (including it’s affiliates) (“LCWIM”) as a new cornerstone investor as part of a broader recapitalisation of the Company.
“We are pleased that an investor of Lazard Carnegie Wylie’s calibre recognises Chandler Macleod’s strengths and opportunities and the confidence it has shown in the Company and its management team,” said Managing Director Ian Basser. “We believe the stability of Chandler Macleod’s business model, centring around an increasingly important contribution from the Company’s strategic focus on multi-year outsourced workforce management service contracts, and growth prospects like the Defence Force Recruitment contract make the Company an attractive proposition for investors.”
http://www.aspectfinancial.com.au/asxdata/20080909/pdf/00878422.pdf


Lazard Carnegie Wylie was formed on 31 July 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Carnegie, Wylie & Company by Lazard, the global financial advisory and asset management firm.

Lazard Carnegie Wylie's principal activities are focused in:

-advisory, comprising M&A and equity capital markets transactions
-private equity

Paul Keating is Chairman Corporate Advisory International

www.lazardcarnegiewylie.com/about-lcw.aspx

Australian Defence Recruitment contract awarded to company with cash flow , cash balance deficit.

On 2 July 2008 The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon MP, witnessed the signing of the new Australian Defence Force (ADF) Recruiting Services Contract with the ASX listed Chandler Macleod. The contract is valued at up to $405 million over the next five years.
Mr Snowdon said that Chandler Macleod was selected by Defence following an extensive and competitive tender process conducted in accordance with Government Procurement Guidelines.
Chandler replaced the much larger and better established Manpower Services Australia (http://www.manpower.com.au/about-manpower/about-manpower.aspx).


Mr Snowdon’s assertion that “Chandler Macleod was selected by Defence following an extensive and competitive tender process conducted in accordance with Government Procurement Guidelines” needs to be seen in light of the following:

In March this year Chandler announced that it had suffered a pre-tax loss of AUD 2,731,000 but a profit after tax of AUD 267,000 for the half-year ended December 31 2008.
For the same period in 2007 it reported a pre-tax profit of AUD 6,994,000 but loss after tax of AUD 2,291,000 .


For the year ended 31 December 2008 the company reported a consolidated profit of AUD 2,744,000 but negative operating cash flow of AUD 99,000. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the 2008 financial year were in deficit to the sum of AUD 1,408,000.


(see http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ric=CMG.AX)


Not surprising then that in September 2008 , just 2 months after Snowdon's glowing endorsement, Samrtmoney described Chandler McLeod as a “struggling recruitment firm” that had been "thrown a rope" by investment bankers Mark Carnegie and John Wylie who had offered to buy a 19.9% share of the business.
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/chandler-macleod-gets-10.9-million-from-lazard-carnegie-wylie.html

CSIRO contractor on US Govt Entity List; List's objective is to curtail diversion of technology to WMD programs

CSIRO has placed the contract for the design and build of 36 ASKAP antennas with the 54th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (known as CETC54). CETC54 is a state-owned institution, established in 1952. It has undertaken thousands of government and commercial projects in satellite communication, tracking, telemetry and control, and has designed and built the 50-m Miyun radio telescope for receiving data from China's Chang'E1 satellite. The institute is headquartered in Shijiazhuang, in Hebei province, about 200 km south of Beijing.

ASKAP requires low-cost, low-power and low-manpower build antennas on a scale not previously realised. ASKAP will be a survey telescope and its antennas must therefore provide a wide field-of-view - 30 square degrees - achieved by using a focal plane array that creates 30 separate, simultaneous beams. The image illustrates the design of the ASKAP antennas as they will appear at the MRO site.

(Source: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/askap/antennas.html)



The 54th Research Institute of China, a.k.a. Communication, Telemetry and Telecontrol Research Institute (CTI) is on the US Government's Entity List.(http://www.access.gpo.gov/bis/ear/pdf/744spir.pdf)


About the Entity List
The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) contain a list of names of certain foreign persons – including businesses, research institutions, government and private organizations, individuals, and other types of legal persons – that are subject to specific license requirements for the export, reexport and/or transfer (in-country) of specified items. These persons comprise the Entity List, which is found in Supplement No. 4 to Part 744 of the EAR. On an individual basis, the persons on the Entity List are subject to licensing requirements and policies supplemental to those found elsewhere in the EAR.

Background and Purpose of the Entity List

BIS first published the Entity List in February 1997 as part of its efforts to inform the public of entities who have engaged in activities that could result in an increased risk of the diversion of exported, reexported and transferred (in-country) items to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. Since its initial publication, grounds for inclusion on the Entity List have expanded to activities sanctioned by the State Department and activities contrary to U.S. national security and/or foreign policy interests.

http://www.bis.doc.gov/entities/default.htm