| Ali - Third time unlucky? |
So who is telling the truth about the plane’s detention? Is it a simple case of non-landing rights, or is Ali Rustam involved in more sinister acts? What was the Prime Minister's son doing on the trip? Was he on a jolly funded by the tax-payer? Did he pay his own way? Is he conducting official business there?
Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam has been plagued by a series of bad luck recently. This week’s was no different.
It started in November, a fortnight after he and Prime minister Najib Abdul Razak declared Malacca a “developed state” amidst great fanfare and celebration. Fireworks were lit and a public holiday was declared. Then, came the denial from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Jon Hall, the OECD representative said: “The OECD did not endorse the Malaccan declaration, mainly because we are not is a position to do so.” Malacca, it transpires, was not a developed state
At the time of the declaration, Ali Rustam also launched a RM15.9mil, 24-passenger monorail running alongside the Malacca River. The state’s aim was to tap the potential of the river as a tourist attraction. In the two months the 1.6km first started operating, it only worked intermittently in the first month and has been lying idle in the second. To add insult to injury, it was recently revealed that hours after the launch, a coach with 20 passengers and passengers had to be rescued by a skylift.
On Monday, it was announced that an 82-strong delegation from Malacca, Johor, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur would call on Timor Leste President Jose Horta Ramos during an official visit to foster closer ties between the two countries.
Ali Rustam said the trip was aimed at reciprocating Ramos’ visit to Malacca two years ago. Ali’s delegation comprised state government officials and representatives from several private companies from the capital and three states. They were going to establish education, cultural and business links.
Ali Rustam said, “Besides oil and gas, there are also agricultural ventures that could be considered such as growing of maize and rubber trees”.
According to him, “Timor-Leste House” to be set up in Malacca, would help promote Timor-Leste as a tourist destination. It would also contribute towards better trade and cultural ties between the two former Portuguese colonies.
He then reassured the Timor-Leste president Ramos Horta that he would do whatever it could to make the place attractive as a full-fledged cultural centre.
Yesterday, Ali Rustam’s chartered aircraft was detained by the Indonesian Armed Forces at the Djuanda International Airport in Surabaya. They had allegedly entered Indonesian air space without permission.
According to Kompas, the flight was carrying members of the Malacca government, a cabinet minister and “Prime Minister Najib's son”.
The Kompas.com news portal quoted Indonesian military spokesman First Admiral Iskandar Sitompul as saying that the BAE 146-200 aircraft left Dili, Timor Leste, and landed at the airport yesterday afternoon.
The report said that the aircraft been given permission to enter Indonesian air space, but the agent for the flight had failed to secure landing rights.
When the aircraft refuelled in Surabaya, it was detained.
Other conflicting reports say that the plane might have been detained for security as airport personnel spotted some of its passengers loitering about, as the plane was being refuelled.
Others maintain that no such permission had been granted to the airliner.
So who is telling the truth about the plane’s detention? Is it a simple case of non-landing rights, or is Ali Rustam involved in more sinister acts? What was the Prime Minister's son doing on the trip? Was he on a jolly funded by the tax-payer? Did he pay his own way? Is he conducting official business there?
To charter a plane and go through foreign air-space as well as land at an airport, needs careful organisation, planning and money.
Ali-Rustams track record has not been impressive.
First, the “developed state” was self-proclaimed. Next, a costly mono-rail lies dormant and is gathering rust and dust. And now we get to hear of his plane that had allegedly entered Indonesian air-space without permission. And of course, the Prime minister's son in his entourage.
Maybe the Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta might want to reconsider the help Ali has offered.
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the news break for readers convenience
Malaysian charter flight with 81 passengers detained in Surabaya
BERNAMA - A Malaysian chartered aircraft carrying 81 passengers - including the premier's son - and crew was reported to have been detained by the Indonesian Armed Forces at the Djuanda International Airport in Surabaya yesterday for allegedly entering Indonesian air space without permission.
The Kompas.com news portal quoted Indonesian military spokesman First Admiral Iskandar Sitompul as saying that the BAE 146-200 aircraft left Dili, Timor Leste, and landed at the airport yesterday afternoon.
The report said that the aircraft had actually been given permission to enter Indonesian air space, but the agent for the flight failed to secure landing rights.
As such, when the aircraft had to refuel in Surabaya, it was detained. It was allowed to take off at about 8pm last night.
According to Kompas, the flight was carrying members of the Malacca government, a cabinet minister and “Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's son”.
The unnamed minister and premier's son, plus four others, were however allowed to fly out of Surabaya on a commercial airliner.
- Bernama
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