The influence of an anti-Zionist extremist organization headed by a former neo-Nazi leader is behind recent diplomatic tension between Australia and Moslem-ruled Malaysia.
There is no rational explanation for the extent of Malaysian governmental ill-will toward Australia, an Australian diplomatic analyst observed.
He spoke after the powerful youth wing of Malaysia’s governing United Malay National Organization claimed “the Zionist movement in Australia is trying to harm the Moslem leadership of Malaysia.”
The charge, called “bizarre” by an Australian Foreign Ministry official, originated with the Australian Peoples’ Congress, also known as Australian Peoples’ Conference, which is headed by Robert Pash.
Pash, who has been described in the federal Parliament as “a far-right racist loony,” has links with anti-Semitic groups abroad, including England’s fascist National Front.
The APC is active in promoting trips by Australian public figures to Libya.
Its influence in Malaysia came to light after UMNO’s powerful youth wing charged that “the Zionist movement in Australia is trying to harm the Moslem leadership of Malaysia,” a claim straight out of the APC’s propaganda kit.
UMNO’s youth wing is a significant political force in Malaysia, a government spokesman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Its reiteration of Pash’s propaganda line has “added to the difficulty Australia faces in reestablishing a positive relationship with Malaysia,” the spokesman said.
INDIVIDUAL JEWS NAMED
A statement issued April 19 by UMNO’s spokesman, Mustapha Yaakub, accused “Australian Zionists” of infiltrating Malaysia to bring down the prime minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad.
The APC alleged that was the aim of “international Zionism.”
The English-language Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times said Australian Jews have been attacking Malaysia for the past five years.
It named Michael Danby, editor of the Australia/Israel Review; Isi Leibler, a vice president of the World Jewish Congress; and Justice Marcus Binfield, the former human rights commissioner.
Their names came from APC dossiers.
The Australian Jewish community had in fact criticized Mahathir’s government for refusing in 1984 to allow the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to perform in Malaysia if music by Ernst Bloch was on the program.
The orchestra canceled its stop in that country.
Australian Jews also have condemned Malaysia for alleging that Israel practices “state terrorism” against Palestinians and for denying a visa to an Australian soccer coach who held an Israeli passport.
The APC blamed “Australia’s powerful Zionist lobby, many of whose leaders had direct and intimate contact with Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke” for “the current anti-Malaysian campaign.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
