by Ganesh Sahathevan
The Royal Malaysian Airforce Base in Butterworth might be utilised to save Afghans who assisted Australian forces in Afghanistan.
In the words of Australian Minister For Defence, Marise Payne:
“Around 50 ADF personnel are hosted at RMAF Butterworth by Malaysia and this can increase to up to 350 during exercises.”
Payne said so in 2018 when the Australian Government announced that it would spend AUD 22 Million to upgrade facilities at the Butterworth base.
There is therefore capacity, at Butterworth for 300 Afghans or more at any point, to be quarantined, undergo medical checks, and satisfy other normal immigration requirements, en route resettlement in Australia.
Getting these men, women and children from Afghanistan to Butterworth is a matter of relying on alliances and assets, both civilian and military, in Malaysia and Singapore.
TO BE READ WITH
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Australia has access to at least 5 airports in Malaysia & Singapore that can be used as extraction points for repatriation of citizens & PRs stranded in the region, plus state and civilian aircraft including A380s-Inability to do so raises serious questions about Australia's resources to defend its citizens in time of war, and be an effective FPDA, US ally in this region
by Ganesh Sahathevan
Australia is a member of the Five Power Defence Agreement (FPDA) which includes New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK. That agreement, is borne of long standing historical ties between Australia and the nations, and it is one aspect of a spacial relationship that Australia has with other Commonwealth nations in this region.
Malaysia and Singapore are home to at least seven civilian and military airports that can be used as extraction points for the repatriation of citizens and permanent residents stranded in the region as a result of Australia's COVID restrictions.. While access to military airbases is usually restricted, the special relationship can be relied on for emergencies such as this. The military bases are in some instances close to large international airports like Subang in Malaysia and Changi in Singapore, all of which have, as one would expect given COVID restrictions, excess capacity with regards their runways and airport facilities. This is certainly the case with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
In addition, Australia can readily charter more than six Airbus 380s, which belong to Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines and which are sitting idle, for the purpose. These would be in addition to Qantas A380s and Australian Government aircraft. The RAAF Special Purpose Aircraft are government aircraft used for the purpose of transporting government officials. The fleet includes a converted KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport modified to support long-range government VIP transport needs (see photo above).
The above assets combined can also be used to provide a bridge for the repatriation of Australian's stranded in other parts of the world.The total number is likely to be in excess of 50,000.
That the Australian Government is unable to readily organise the assets described above to repatriate its own citizens, stranded as a result of the government's own decisions, during peace time, raises serious questions about Australia's capacity to defend the country and its citizens in times of real crisis, including war, when air and sea routes are likely to be compromised.
Consequently questions arise with regards Australia's capacity to be a useful FPDA partner, and an ally in this region to the USA.
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