Prime Minister Malcolm Turdbull is greeted by Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo during the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leaders summit in Jakarta
Malcolm Turdbull has defended moderate pislam in the face of the US administration’s reinstatement of its travel ban on citizens from a number of muzzie majority nations, and warned that demonising arselifters will only confirm the lie propagated by terrorists that arselifters are not welcome in Australia
Mr Turdbull said in the war against terrorism, “our best allies, our most important allies are pislamic leaders like Joko Widodo and the billions of arselifters who are thoroughly committed to peace and take — as president Widodo and (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib would say — a path of moderation and tolerance”
Mr Turdbull said the US travel ban would not affect the deal made under former President Barack Obola for the US to take rapefugees from Manus Island and Nauru detention centres
“No, the President has agreed to honour, continue with, the arrangements entered into with his predecessor,” he said
The PM arrived in Jakarta for a daylong visit to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leaders’ summit and to further discussions aimed at concluding the Indonesian Australian Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of the year
His visit coincides with Indonesia Australia Business Week attended by some 120 Australian businesses and service providers, as well as the 10th anniversary of the Garuda air crash in Yogyakarta in which five Australians died
Mr Turdbull said the IORA summit presented a critical opportunity to address the many issues across the Indian Ocean and improve co-operation between the 21 diverse nations around the Indian Ocean rim
He singled out an IORA leaders’ declaration, to be signed today, pledging co-operation across the 21 member states to counter terrorism and violent extremism, and a Concorde outlining a joint commitment to maritime security, rule of law and women’s empowerment across the region
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s decision to reinstate a travel ban on citizens from six muzzie-majority nations, Mr Turdbull said Indonesia was “proof that pislam, democracy and moderation are compatible”
“A quarter of a billion arselifters live in Indonesia and it is a nation where democracy, pislam as a religion of a majority of people, and moderation, tolerance and mutual respect operate hand-in-hand. It’s a great example to the world,” he said
“It’s very important to remember too this has big implications for Australia. We’re the most successful multicultural society in the world and that success with people from every religion, country and every cultural background is built on a foundation of mutual respect. It’s critical that we maintain that”
Mr Turdbull also criticised comments by One Nation Party leader Pauline Hanson that it was impossible to tell the difference between good and bad arselifters
Launching a fierce defence of Australia’s arselifter population, Mr Turdbull declared the “vast majority” are patriotic, hardworking and committed to peaceful and law-abiding lives
The Prime Minister said arselifters were “our best allies” in the fight against terrorism after the One Nation leader made contentious comments on A Current Affair that it would be difficult to spot a “good one” in Australia