Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
John Allen
,
Malaysia
,
MFAT
,
Muhammed Rizalman Bin Ismail
,
Murray McCully
,
No surprises policy
,
Sexual abuse
There have clearly been high-level communications between New Zealand and Malaysia in the last 24 hours. The Herald reports on the latest development:
The Malaysian diplomat at the centre of the sex-case scandal will return to New Zealand to face charges for sexual assault, the Malaysian Government confirmed late last night.
In a dramatic twist to the case, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman confirmed that warrant officer Muhammed Rizalman Bin Ismail would be sent back to this country, where there is an active warrant for his arrest. He would be accompanied by a military escort.
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said Mr Anifah confirmed the decision in a phone call last night. "I want to convey my thanks to the Malaysian Government for this very welcome development which underlines the good faith and integrity with which they have approached this issue.
"There was never any intention by either government to let this matter rest, and regardless of whether the process took place in Malaysia or New Zealand there was a strong commitment to seeing justice done.
"The young woman involved has been through a great deal and the way this matter has been handled has only added to her suffering. I hope she, and her family, will welcome news that the accused will return to New Zealand so the matter can be fully investigated as was always the Government's intention."
Murray McCully will be especially relieved by this turn of events. The Foreign Minister does not emerge from this case covered in glory after officials from both countries seem to have made a conscious decision to keep their politicians out of the loop. Ministers both from this administration and its predecessor operated on a "no surprises" basis, but on this occasion McCully has been blind-sided by MFAT officials and has every right to feel aggrieved and angry.
MFAT head John Allen offered his resignation yesterday, but that was rejected by Murray McCully. But even Mr Allen was kept in the dark by officials who tried to sort this mess out by themselves, rather than at the highest level. In a case as sensitive as this, such conduct is inexcusable. In a separate story, the Herald summarises the bungling:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs head John Allen offered to resign over his ministry's mishandling of the case of a Malaysian diplomat who left the country after an alleged attempt to rape a Wellington woman.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully declined the offer from Mr Allen but said he was angry about his officials' mistakes, which led to public embarrassment for the minister and Prime Minister John Key.
The debacle had undermined his confidence in the ministry's ability to carry out its duties.
The extent of the miscommunication within the ministry became apparent yesterday as Mr Allen revealed he knew nothing about the charges against Malaysian diplomat Muhammed Rizalman Bin Ismail until Friday - seven weeks after police arrested him.
Mr McCully did not know Ismail had left the country with diplomatic immunity until this date, when the Herald on Sunday began asking questions about it.
Malaysian officials were also given mixed messages by ministry officials which led them to believe New Zealand agreed to his repatriation in Malaysia.
In official talks between New Zealand and Malaysian representatives, the ministry clearly stated that it wanted Malaysia to waive immunity for Ismail so he could face the charges of burglary and assault with intent to rape in New Zealand.
But mid-level officials also engaged in a series of unofficial discussions - emails and phone calls - which led to this stance becoming more "ambiguous" for Malaysian officials.
As a result, Malaysia concluded that it was acceptable to New Zealand for the diplomat to return home instead of facing the charges in New Zealand, contrary to Mr Key's public statements.
Mr Allen said: "What is clear is that our Malaysian colleagues believed not agreeing to the waiver was a process the New Zealand Government agreed with.
It is commendable that Malaysia has, once advised that New Zealand definitely wanted Muhammed Rizalman to stand trial here, agreed to him being returned to New Zealand. Had all communications on the issue been at a Minister-to-Minister level, the bureaucratic bungle could have been averted.
Muhammed Rizalman Bin Ismail will have his day in court in New Zealand. More importantly, so will the woman who he allegedly attacked. That is the best piece of news in this whole saga.
