Sale of MV Equanimity: Lawyers have done quite well;and the amounts paid are intriguing.

by Ganesh Sahathevan




The lawyers involved in the sale of the yacht Equanimity seem to have done quite well.

Messr Joseph & Partners a three partner ,one associate firm was paid RM 1.6 Million, or gross fee per employee of RM 400,000.

Mr Ong Chee Kwan of the Singapore law firm Rajah & Tann was paid RM 360,000; the payment appears to be to him personally rather than his firm.

The boat is expensive, but it is hard to see that its cost should have anything to do with the quantum of fees.

Finally, Holman Fenwick Willan of the UK, managed a fee of RM 40,000 or STG 7374.89. This component of the legal costs incurred is intriguing; in this writer's experience that amount would normally, at a firm the size of Fenwick,pay for,at best, file opening and perhaps an hour's worth of partner and junior solicitor time.

END 

References 

A breakdown of the costs incurred is as follows:

• Berthing charges at Port Klang - RM407,000comp
• Berthing charges at Langkawi naval base - RM0
• Operational costs (fees, salaries, insurance, supplies, repairs) - RM12.7 million
• Independent valuation service - RM400,000
• Messr Joseph & Partners - RM1.6 million
• Ong Chee Kwan (Lawyer) - RM360,000
• Messrs Holman Fenwick Willan - RM40,000
• Sitpah Selvaratnam (Lead Counsel) - RM0

AG breaks down RM15.5m costs for Equanimity sale

Published: 6 May 2019, 3:49 pm  |  Modified: 6 May 2019, 3:49 pmAttorney-General Tommy Thomas has provided a breakdown of the costs incurred after concluding the seizure and subsequent sale of the superyacht Equanimity, which was purportedly acquired using stolen 1MDB funds.

In total, Thomas said around RM15.5 million was expended in arresting the superyacht on Aug 6 last year and maintaining it for nine months until April 25, before it was delivered into the possession of a Genting Malaysia Bhd subsidiary, which purchased the vessel for US$126 million (RM522 million).

"The sum of RM15.5 million is not the final figure. However, we are confident that the remaining expenses would be much less.

"In relative terms, this sum, which works out to about US$3.75 million, is a petty sum for services rendered by all concerned for nine months.

"If the arrest had been undertaken anywhere else in the world, the cost would have been two to three times more. 

"Further, no commission is payable to the broker because it is a directly negotiated sale," he said.

A breakdown of the costs incurred is as follows:

• Berthing charges at Port Klang - RM407,000
• Berthing charges at Langkawi naval base - RM0
• Operational costs (fees, salaries, insurance, supplies, repairs) - RM12.7 million
• Independent valuation service - RM400,000
• Messr Joseph & Partners - RM1.6 million
• Ong Chee Kwan (Lawyer) - RM360,000
• Messrs Holman Fenwick Willan - RM40,000
• Sitpah Selvaratnam (Lead Counsel) - RM0

Elaborating on the breakdown, Thomas said RM407,000 was spent on berthing charges at Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang between August to November 2018.

He added that the Royal Malaysian Navy subsequently allowed the Equanimity to berth at its naval base in Langkawi without any charges, starting from November 2018, until it was delivered to its purchaser.

As for the RM12.7 million in operational costs, Thomas said it included local agency fees, professional management fees, salaries and transportation for the professional crew, protection and indemnity insurance, as well as hull and machinery insurance.

Furthermore, he said the costs also included “food and supplies required by the Equanimity," as well as parts, equipment and services rendered for the necessary repairs and maintenance of the superyacht.

As for the RM400,000 spent on the independent valuation service, Thomas said it was to engage a reputable valuer and appraiser of international standing.

"Such an engagement is a necessary requirement for a judicial sale," he said.

Payments screened on multiple levels

With regard to legal fees, RM1.6 million was expended for Messrs Joseph & Partners, who acted as solicitors for the Malaysian government and 1MDB group of companies, while RM360,000 was also paid to lawyer Ong Chee Kwan as counsel fees.

Another RM40,000 was paid to Messrs Holman Fenwick Wilan for foreign legal advice and to deregister and reregister a vessel in a Red Ensign jurisdiction.

As for lead counsel Sitpah Selvaratnam (photo) who acted for the Attorney-General's Chambers, no charges were incurred.

"Sitpah conducted this case on a pro-bono basis, for which I again express our indebtedness.

"Alice Loke and Rahayu Mumazaini of the AGC also played vital roles in the expert legal team advising on this specialist branch of the law," he said.

Thomas stressed that there were "multi-layered" screenings and approvals in making the payments, adding that the legal and accounting team served as the first filtering layer.

"Once approved, invoices were submitted to my office for a second screening, and thereafter by the sheriff of the Admiralty Court," he said.

"It was only after the invoices were cleared by the three levels were they submitted to the board of directors of 1MDB for payment approval.

"For legal fees, all invoices were accompanied by detailed timesheets, particularising the tasks undertaken for each hour charged in the invoice and supporting documents for disbursement incurred. The timesheets were scrutinised by the AGC."

Proceeds to repay 1MDB debt

Thomas said the sale demonstrated the capacity of the Malaysian legal system to perform world-class services in a specialist branch, namely admiralty law, and for ancillary supporting services to keep the superyacht in a good and safe condition for nine months.

He said the full receipt of the purchase price of US$126 million was delivered to the court-appointed stakeholder on April 23, with due execution of the bill of sale by the sheriff of the Admiralty Court on April 24.

The vessel was then delivered to Genting's subsidiary on April 25. The company has since renamed the vessel as Tranquility and moved it to Singapore.

"The purchase price will be kept by the stakeholder until the expiry of a 90-day period, during which the legal team will move the court for leave to gazette the receipt of payment, for taxation of costs, and determination of priorities for payment out of the proceeds.

"It is only after these Orders of Court that the monies will be credited into a segregated 1MDB asset recovery account, that was set up solely to recover 1MDB assets to pay off 1MDB debt," he said.

The superyacht was seized off the coast of Bali in February 2018 in a joint operation between Indonesian police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was subsequently surrendered to Malaysia.

Businessperson Low Taek Jho, a fugitive wanted for the alleged multi-billion ringgit theft of 1MDB funds, is said to have commissioned the construction of the vessel using the ill-gotten gains.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is also standing trial for the 1MDB scandal.

International investigators believe at least US$4.5 billion (RM18.67 billion) was misappropriated from 1MDB and laundered through the global financial system.

Tun Mahathir asked where the money stolen by Jho Low has gone to-He can start by looking at Petronas

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The Star and others have reported,quoting PM Mahathir:

"There is still a lot of money missing. The funds we have recovered are less than RM2bil.

"He (Jho Low) stole and lost it all. (With) 1MDB alone, he had taken RM42bil. Who got the money? Who is keeping the money? Where is the money?

The answer to at least part of the question may well lie within Petronas, which reports to the PM and the PM only. This writer and others have long contended that the CEPSA-Coastal Energy  deal brokered and financed in part by Jho Low and family needs to be  investigated by Malaysia, and the assets from that deal which involve Petronas seized.Tracing the assets will be a complex task but even here the US  Department Of Justice has already done the initial work. Reuters providedd an outline of the DOJ's work in this report  in 2017:

Money misappropriated from a Malaysian state fund was used to partly finance the $2.2 billion acquisition of Houston-based Coastal Energy in 2014, the U.S. government alleged in a lawsuit filed last week.

The assets involved in that deal include this:

Offshore Malaysia

click above for enlarged field view

In July 2012, Coastal entered into a Small Field Risk Service Contract ("RSC") with Petroliam Nasional Berhad ("PETRONAS") for the development and production of petroleum from the Kapal, Banang and Meranti cluster of small fields (the "KBM Cluster") offshore Peninsular Malaysia.  Coastal is the operator of the KBM Cluster fields and intends to hold a 70% equity interest alongside a 30% interest local partner.

Pursuant to the RSC, Coastal provides the upfront development capital and undertakes the development drilling and production of the KBM Cluster in exchange for a remuneration fee and recovery of costs, while PETRONAS remains the owner of the project. 

The KBM Cluster fields are located within 20 kilometers of each other in a water depth of 60 meters. The main oil reservoirs are Miocene aged sandstones ranging in depths from 3,800 feet to 7,800 feet.  In addition to the development program, the Company intends to conduct appraisal and step-out drilling to exploit further upside it sees in the properties.

Petronas' information on the above is likely to be the best available.

END 

To be read with
PM Mahathir hopes to recover at least USD 7 Billion stolen from 1MDB-So many obvious targets being ignored, especially KWAP's USD 1 B in Singapore.

Larry Low's Petronas concession PM-316 can be seized under AMLA-Why has this not been done?

9M-TMJ, a Gulfstream G650. registered in the name of the Govetrnment Of Johor ,for the use of the Tengku Mahkota Of Johor?

by Ganesh Sahathevan


by Ganesh Sahathevan

Corporate Jet Investor reported on February 28, 2017:

The son of the Sultan of Johor in Malaysia is preparing to take delivery of a new Gulfstream G650.

Johor is a constitutional monarchy state in southern Malaysia, the closest to Singapore.

G650 msn 6239 was recently photographed at Long Beach airport by local photographer Micheal Carter wearing a stunning all black livery with a silver emblem on the tail. Close to the engines is the small flag of the state of Johor.

The aircraft is believed to be taking up the registration 9M-TMJ. That registration is already worn by Gulfstream G550 msn 5453, which was only delivered in May 2015.
,show tha
TMJ are the initials of the Sultan’s son, Tunku Mahkota Johor. The G550 that the G650 is replacing has reportedly been donated to a local football team.

The registration details,reported by Planelogger website show that the plane is registered in the name of the Government Of Johor.

Registration History

	Reg	Airline	Delivered	Status
	N639GA	Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation	04.11.16	Left Fleet
	9M-TMJ	Government of Johor	11.09.17	Active

PM Mahathir hopes to recover at least USD 7 Billion stolen from 1MDB-So many obvious targets being ignored, especially KWAP's USD 1 B in Singapore.

by Ganesh Sahathevan



Some targets are so obvious the inaction is painful to watch:See 
Sarawak Reports' Deafening Silence Out Of Australia Over 
1MDB's Connection To Top Bank ANZ

Singapore's Straits Times and others have reported, quoting PM Mahathir Mohamad:

"I heard about this and I think they (various countries) know it is our money, so they will give it back. Singapore will also give back our money. We are hoping to get back US$7 billion," he told media

No one can argue with the sentiment (except that perhaps the figure should be larger,closer to say USD 20 Billion).However, it does not look like Mahathir's government is interested in doing anything on its own to help the effort, which to date has been driven by the US Department Of Justice.


The USD DOJ has filed complaints to seize some USD 1.7 Billion in property which it says was with money from 1MDB but Malaysia seems to have done nothing, except seize one yacht.


Meanwhile,there are some obvious targets.

There is that USD 1 Billion taken from KWAP to which the Singapore Government has become quite attached:

Is KWAP's RM 4 Billion seized by Singapore hostage to Malaysia-Singapore Water Agreement negotiations?


Then there is the bit more complicated case of the principal and coupon payments from the UNRATED 1MDB bonds bought by Goldman Sachs which now collateralize Goldman's Signum Magnolia bonds.

Recovery of this money will require action against a number of parties, and it is complex, but the Ministry Of Finance and its advisers to whom the task has been entrusted seem to have done nothing. This is not unexpected;this writer has reminded readers that PwC does not really have the skills for the job.

Further, following from  the above, is the bit more complex of  hunting down assets which are believed  to be located  in Australia.Again, this will require detailed and complex work, but the targets for initial investigation are well known.

END

FEB

27

1MDB loss may be closer to USD 20 billion: Najib, Rosmah conducting 1MDB business with PetroSaudi may have included undisclosed off-balance sheet transactions 

by Ganesh Sahathevan 


(Source:http://www.tradingeconomics.com/malaysia/net-errors-and-omissions-adjusted-bop-us-dollar-wb-data.html)

The value for Net errors and Omissions in the Balance Of Payments (BoP, current US$) in Malaysia  has fluctuated between $3,552,316,000 in 1993 and ($19,990,770,000) in 2010.
The "Errors and Omissions" figure is considered a proxy for "unofficial" or rather unaccountable flows of foreign exchange out of the country. 
2010 was of course the year when much of the 1MDB theft took place, and it does appear as if that massive unaccounted flow of US Dollars has shown up in the Balance of Payments.


As previously reported on this blog,Sarawak Report has obtained and published photos which show that PM  Najib and wife Rosmah may have conducted 1MDB business with PetroSaudi on their own, without 1MDB management, or board present. Given the extent of the sudden increase in leakages it is not improbable that the business conducted included off-balance sheet transactions executed in 1MDB's name. 

The extent of 1MDB's losses could well be in excess of the currently estimated USD 10 billion, and in fact closer to USD 20 billion.That the higher amount has not shown up in any of the investigations conducted so far is easy to explain.These are not in any way reflected in the books and known only to the chairman, PM Najib. Nevertheless,these would still be liabilities borne by  1MDB ,and by extension the Malaysian Government.

END 

Posted 27th February 2017 by Anonymous

Gulen, Governor Beazley, the Premier and AG NSW and members of the judiciary : Revelation of Gulen's financing raises perception of bias that must be addressed.

by Ganesh Sahathevan




As previously reported on this blog:
More questions about Gulen in the international media: Meanwhile NSW Governor Beazley,Premier Berjelikian and AG Speakman maintain silence, even as their annual Gulen Iftar approaches

The story above featured documentaries by Russia's RT Documentary  Channel, which has added to its series on Gulen the story above about how Gulen finances his activities with funds from businesses run by his followers.

The revelation helps clarify the structure of the Gulen movement .Like many jihadi and dakwah movements its objectives are  a combination of business, politics and Islam.

Consequently the continued solidarity shown by the new Governor NSW  Margaret Beazley, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Attorney General NSW Mark Speakman with the Australian arms  of the Gulen movement raise a perception of bias: any dalliance with entities financed by business would, and the jihadi and daawah elements in this case make matters worse.

Further complicating matters is the fact that the AG NSW has in writing condemned this writer's works on Gulen, and on terrorism in general , as subjective, defamatory and lacking in insight. 

This writer is not the only one to have raised questions about Gulen's influence peddling.

He has also had first hand experience of local Gulenists attempting to deflect his questions by threatening to refer him to Australian enforcement agencies. That threat was made by Gulenist in Melbourne and it was immediately forwarded to the then Chief Of Police Victoria, Nixon. 

The Gulen movement in Melbourne had developed a close relationship with senior officers in the Victorian Police force, sponsoring the then Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay and wife Chris La, among others, on a study tour of Turkey.

For members of the judiciary who have been seen to be  associated with Gulen there is the added problem of a perception of bias  even in commercial matters involving Gulenist in Australia.

The Governor, the Premier and the AG (who is in charge of protecting NSW from terrorism) continue to maintain their silence, even as the Annual NSW Parliament Iftar approaches.

END 

Penny Wong's message may not be welcome in Malaysia,for obvious reasons(Hint: Mahathir Says Asia Won't Follow West on LGBT Rights)

by Ganesh Sahathevan 

A female foreign minister of Asian heritage would boost 

Australia's reputation, Penny Wong says;but she's entitled

to her opinion.

 

The ABC has reported:

(Labor Shadow Foreign Minister Penny) Wong vowed if Labor won power her first trip overseas would be to Indonesia and Malaysia (see full story below).

Meanwhile, from Bloomberg:
Malaysia's Mahathir Says Asia Won't Follow West on LGBT Rights

This writer assumes that readers are aware of Mahathir's history.especially with his former deputy, the "prime minister in-waiting", Anwar Ibrahim.


Having said that,perhaps Ms Wong is simply echoing DFAT's aspirations for a LGBT friendly Malaysia which must come to pass when (not if) its long time hero Anwar Ibrahim becomes PM (soon, very soon).See:

Australia attacks Mahathir, backs Anwar for PM: Australian interference in Malaysian elections discovered by former IGP Rahim Noor in 1994

Meanwhile, Wong  may have to delay that official visit to Malaysia,regardless of the message she feels she can bring.

END 

Federal election: First Asian-Australian foreign minister would send strong message, Penny Wong says
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic

Posted about 2 hours ago


Key points:Labor senator Penny Wong says Australia would send a powerful symbolic message across the Asia-Pacific region if she became the first Asian-Australian appointed foreign minister.




The shadow foreign minister gave a major speech at the Lowy Institute in Sydney today, laying out Labor's foreign policy priorities ahead of the May 18 election.

Ms Wong vowed if Labor won power her first trip overseas would be to Indonesia and to Malaysia, where she was born.

And she suggested her presence on the international stage could help undermine stereotypes about Australia being largely white or a virulently racist nation.


"Narratives matter, as do perceptions," Senator Wong said.

"There are times when Australia's past attitudes on race can be evoked in ways which are neither accurate nor helpful.

"This was brought home to me during the first iteration of Pauline Hanson, when my father, still living in Malaysia, asked me if I would need to leave Australia.

"But just as historical negatives can be evoked, so too they can be shifted."

Senator Wong said when she represented Australia on the international stage in the past, it was perceived by other nations to be the move of "an independent multicultural Australia confident of our place in the world."


"What is significant about that possibility is not my personal attributes — but rather what would be significant about an Asian-Australian being our foreign minister is what it says about us," she said.
Foreign affairs matters have barely featured in this election campaign, and there are broad swathes of bipartisan agreement between both major parties on several key foreign policy issues.

Australian policy makers have struggled to deal with Beijing's increasingly assertive and authoritarian behaviour both at home and abroad.

Senator Wong told the Lowy Institute the Coalition had mismanaged the China relationship, vowing to bring a "more considered, disciplined and consistent approach".




But she also warned the shifting balance of power in Asia meant a Labor Government would need to "redefine" its relationship with Beijing.

Australia could no longer simply seek security from the United States while trying to quarantine vital economic ties with China, she said.


"It is not simply a matter of a diplomatic reset. Fundamentally, we are in a new phase in the relationship," Senator Wong said.

"The idea of an economic-strategic bifurcation was never really accurate, and certainly is not now."


Twitter Ads info and privacy





Senator Wong did not give specific examples of how a Shorten government might shift policy on China, but she repeated Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's approaches that while Labor would not "pre-emptively frame China only as a threat" it would need to face the "reality" that it was not a democracy either.


"China is not a democracy, nor does it share our commitment to the rule of law," she said.

"Differences between our systems and values will inevitably affect the nature of our interactions. But those realities include the fact that China will remain important to Australia's prosperity."






Debate over China has become increasingly furious, with Australia pushing back against foreign interference by the Chinese Communist Party.

And it intensified after the Government decided to ban the Chinese telco Huawei from taking part in Australia's 5G rollout.

Senator Wong said some analysts presented a polarised vision of a future in which Australia would have to choose between the United States and China.

"[It is] far better if we have a more productive conversation about what lies between and beyond those extremes," she said.

And she scolded both big business and the strategic community for "talking past another" on China instead of listening to alternative points of view.

More questions about Gulen in the international media: Meanwhile NSW Governor Beazley,Premier Berjelikian and AG Speakman maintain silence, even as their annual Gulen Iftar approaches

by Ganesh Sahathevan




First see from SBS :Turkey's 'most-wanted terrorist' and his well-connected friends in Australia

Gulen’s supporters in Australia, and they are many, think this is absurd. They have considerable support among Australian politicians.


(Turkey's Ambassador to Australia) Gokdenizler tells SBS: “Of course we are concerned, and of course we warned both federal and state authorities about how we approach these groups. This is not something new. We have been doing it for a few years.”

But he concedes: “The things is, I have no way of knowing whether there are some terrorist activities in Australia. But since the government of NSW is [hosting the iftar dinner], they’re not seen as such.”

And:

Margaret Coffey, ABC Radio National, 4 September 2013:

............. the Gülen movement is active in this country and influential and eminent figures in government, politics, academia, the police and the judiciary are associated with its activities. For example, though they don’t declare it on their websites, organisations such as the Australian Intercultural Society, AIS, in Victoria, or Affinity Intercultural Foundation, AIF, in NSW, are parts of this trans-national movement.
(The Gülen movement's mysterious role in modern Turkey)


Additionally:
NSW AG Speakman must explain affinity with the Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation ,despite action against FETO by Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia.



And now this, aired in April 2019 by Russia's RTD  which provides the kind of analysis that one never sees or hears in Australia:

References

ABC RN reported in 2013 that eminent figures in the judiciary "are associated with" Gulen activities-In 2019 AG NSW found that to so say so is to lack "insight",and to disrespect the judiciary (and he) 

by Ganesh Sahatahevan


Margaret Coffey, ABC Radio National, 4 September 2013:

............. the Gülen movement is active in this country and influential and eminent figures in government, politics, academia, the police and the judiciary are associated with its activities. For example, though they don’t declare it on their websites, organisations such as the Australian Intercultural Society, AIS, in Victoria, or Affinity Intercultural Foundation, AIF, in NSW, are parts of this trans-national movement.
(The Gülen movement's mysterious role in modern Turkey)




Ganesh Sahathevan, TerrorFinance ,June 15 2018(see story below)

The Hon Justice M J Beazley AO, President Of The Court Of Appeal ,State Of NSW, Australia ,said in a speech delivered in 2014, but not widely reported:
"...despite a perception that Islam and the Australian law are incompatible, this is not borne out by the caselaw"
She did so in conjunction with the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, the Australian arm of the Fetullah Gulen movement, While Gulen and his followers have been recently victimised by former friend and ally Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey who they helped install, Gulen and his people are not innocent of jihadi activity.
They are nevertheless quite adapt at recruiting Western "intellectuals" to promote their, cause, Her Honour is only the most recent.

(see story below Australian judge says syariah & Australian law compatible -Comments in conjunction with the FetullahGulen movement)

The AG NSW and his Legal Profession Admission Board have declared the latter as proof that Sahathevan (this writer) lacks insight and has shown disrespect for then then judge and now Governor designate Beazley, and of course he.

Now see:

Gladys Berejiklian (right) and Margaret Beazley - AAPMargaret Beazley QC will be the next governor of NSW.

NSW Premier Berejiklian and her  AG Mark Speakman SC continue to maintain their silence on the matter of their dalliance with the the Gulen movement, better known these days as the Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO).
NSW's Gulen problem can only worsen, given governor designate Margaret Beazley's presence at a number of events organised by the Gulen movement's local arm, the Affinity Intercutural Group.
At one event Beazley ,then President Of The Court Of Appeal NSW, said:

"...despite a perception that Islam and the Australian law are incompatible, this is not borne out by the caselaw".

Her speech is archived on the NSW Supreme Court website:

The intersection of Australian law and the Islamic faith:a selection of casesAffinity Intercultural FoundationThe Hon Justice M J Beazley AO1


This writer has been informed by the Legal Profession Admission Board, a body under the purview of the Attorney General NSW that statements linking Beazley to Gulen and are considered defamatory of Beazley. This writer  has offered to share intelligence with Beazley and the AG, but the offer has been ignored.

Meanwhile, Turkey's ambassador to Turkey has had this to say about the Gulen movement's high powered links in NSW:

“Of course we are concerned, and of course we warned both federal and state authorities about how we approach these groups. This is not something new. We have been doing it for a few years.”

But he concedes: “The things is, I have no way of knowing whether there are some terrorist activities in Australia. But since the government of NSW is [hosting the iftar dinner], they’re not seen as such.”

(See Turkey's 'most-wanted terrorist' and his well-connected friends in Australia)

The Premier, her AG and their governor designate seem not to understand that for so long as Turkey and Australia maintain diplomatic relations , their dalliances with the Gulen movement will be seen as acts that threaten the interests of a friendly country.

Given recent interest from local parties in this writer's story below,it does appear that the AG's Department Of Justice has been busy trying to find a well researched legal answer to the issues raised below. This writer can attest that the Department has difficulty applying legal concepts to actual facts,such as those outlined by the Turkish ambassador and in the articles below.

END 

References 

JAN 6  2019

NSW Government's Gulen FITS problem: Premier and AG should not,cannot be allowed to determine if Gulen associates are exempt from FITS registration 

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The Shadowy Gülen Movement-Why is it still welcome at Parliament House NSW?
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW AG Speakman have yet to explain their government's affinity with the Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation ,despite action against FETO by Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia.


Meanwhile The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (Scheme) has commenced, on 10 December 2018, but the public register remains empty.The Gulen movement's Australian representatives, which include the Affinity Intercultural Group are obvious candidates, but the Group's decision to not register pursuant to the requirements of the Scheme can be seen to have the approval of the Premier, the AG, and various members of the judiciary.

The Gulen movement has a history of influence peddling here and overseas. 

END 

SEE ALSO

The Case against Gülen;Dr Bruce Mabley;04 JAN 2017.

Turkey: The Gulen Dilemma;Dr Bruce Mabley;07 DEC 2016

Australian judge says syariah & Australian law compatible -Comments in conjunction with the  FetullahGulen movement

by Ganesh Sahathevan


Margaret Joan Beazley AO
The Hon Justice M J Beazley AO, President Of The Court Of Appeal ,State Of NSW, Australia ,said in a speech delivered in 2014, but  not widely reported:
"...despite a perception that Islam and the Australian law are incompatible, this is not borne out by the caselaw"
She did so in conjunction with  the  Affinity Intercultural Foundation,  the Australian arm of the Fetullah Gulen movement. While Gulen and his followers have been recently victimised by former friend and ally Recep Tayyip  Erdoğan, the president of Turkey who they helped install, Gulen and his people are not innocent of jihadi activity.
They are nevertheless quite adapt at recruiting Western "intellectuals" to promote their, cause, Her Honour is only the most recent.There is this other incident :

Erdogan,AKP backer Fetullah Gulen finds support for Islamist cause from Australia's Catholic University

For reference:

More on Erdogan backer Fetullah Gulen

I have previously written about the Fetullah Gulen and his movement , and their influence in Turkey. I have drawn special attention to their support for Turkish PM Erdogan,and Erdogan's support for the SDGT Yassin Al-Kadi ( http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2007/08/erdoganakp-back.html )
The article also draws attention to the charges brought against Gulen by previous Turkish Governments, in regards to his attempts to establish an Islamic state in Turkey.
A part of the Gulen organisation is the Society for Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries (PASIAD).
PASIAD serves at least 3 functions:
a) to promote trade and development by assisting Turkish and Asian businessmen establish contact with each other. (see http://en.fgulen.com/content/view/2198/31/ )
b) the establishment of Turkish schools. In 2004, 4 teachers at a PASIAD school in the Philippines were arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.The school is located in the southern Philippines city of Cotobato, where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is active.(see ( http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/04/02/a1_9.php)
c) propagation of the Islamic faith
In regards to paragraph a), attention is drawn to the fact that PASIAD funds study tours of Turkey by persons with whom Gulen chapters in various countries have sought to build relations. In Australia PASIAD funded a tour of Turkey by an assistant commissioner of police, Ken Lay and his wife. The tour included meetings with various business people in Turkey .( http://www.intercultural.org.au/edialogue/2007/August/index.html )
The assistant commissioner has refused to respond to all queries sent him regarding his trip to Turkey and the business people he met. The questions were put to him in context of Erdogan's support for the SDGT Yassin Al-Kadi.
In regards to paragraph b), attention is drawn to the following matters:
Gulen schools in Russia and Central Asia have been investigated, some closed down for encouraging fundamentalism ,and the terrorism that springs from it (see for example http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/azerbaijan/hypermail/200202/0031.shtml )
In the 1990s, the growth in Turkey of both political Islam and an Islamic-driven pan-Turkism that envisions uniting all the Turkic-- speaking nations from the Mediterranean to China, created problems for Turkey in Central Asia. In 1999, Tashkent shut down the Turkish schools in Uzbekistan run by the Turkish Sufi cleric Fetullah Gulen, accusing them of supporting Islamic groups. (The fires of faith in Central Asia,Ahmed Rashid,1 April 2001,World Policy Journal
45-55,Volume 18, Issue 1)
Even in the Gulen movement's own words , there was little difference between Gulen and the Gray Wolves, best known outside Turkey for the attempted assassination of the late Pope John Paul II by one of their members , Mehmet Ali Agca ( see http://en.fgulen.com/content/view/1208/23/)
In regards to paragraph c), suffice to say that being Sufi has not prevented the Gulen movement in PASIAD from working with Sunni groups such as the World Civilization Research Group of Malaysia (or by the Malay acronym , GPTD).
The GPTD is part of the Malaysian Muslim Youth Force (ABIM), founded by Anwar Ibrahim of the International Institute of Islamci Thought. ABIM continues to maintain strong links with the IIIT even as the latter is being investigated for financing terrorism related activities in the US and elsewhere.

Posted by Ganesh Sahathevan on October 21, 2007 at 18:46 | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

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Posted by Ganesh Sahathevan on June 15, 2018 at 19:36 | Permalink

Posted 6th March by Anonymous