Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong recently visited Malaysia after pledging millions in funding for LGBTQIA+ organisations worldwide -funding commitments to Malaysian entities not disclosed

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

The Mandarin reported on Thursday 2 March 2023: 

“A new Inclusion and Equality Fund will be Australia’s first dedicated fund to support LGBTQIA+ civil society organisations and human rights defenders, international partnerships and networks — helping address social stigma and legal discrimination,” Wong said via a recorded message.
As a first step, Australia will contribute more to the Global Equality Fund, a fund focused on protecting LGBT+ rights globally.
“But this is just the start,” Wong said.
“In the coming months, I have asked our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to consult across our region and our community to identify the areas in which we are best equipped to make a difference.
“This will inform a dedicated LGBTQIA+ human rights engagement strategy — including bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, development and humanitarian assistance.”

Wong is travelling to Malaysia and India this week, with her first visit to the latter as foreign minister.

Wong has been very public about her advocacy of gay rights but that fact has been kept silent in Australia, and by friendly media in Malaysia and Singapore.That however will not prevent questions from being raised in Malaysia about who in Malaysia is being or will be supported by Wong's funding. 

To Be Read WIth 

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Gay rights advocate Penny Wong's visit to Malaysia in her role as Australia's Foreign Minister can empower the Australian High Commission in Malaysia's advocacy for LGBTIQ rights in Malaysia

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

                                   
Penny Wong's emotional speech: same-sex marriage plebiscite 'exposing our children to hatred' – video


Australia's new Foreign Minister, Penny Wong , has announced that she will be visiting Malaysia in coming weeks. 

Her official visit will raise problems in Malaysia, given her public advocacy of gay rights, including same sex marriage (see video above). It can nevertheless  empower the  Australian High Commission in Malaysia's advocacy for LGBTIQ rights in Malaysia. 

TO BE READ WITH 

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski on LGBTIQ rights in Malaysia: Corporate Malaysia is moving forward, because diversity "just works better" , embracing what are really just "human rights"

 By Ganesh Sahathevan 

A Twitter exchange between this writer and the Australian High Commissioner  to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski.

https://twitter.com/AusHCMalaysia/status/1369896616409194498




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Saturday, January 23, 2021

Australia and its High Commissioner attempt to impose Australian LGBT norms on Malaysia, critical of Malaysia's sharia law: unclear how his intervention serves Australia's interests