http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au:80/news/national/muslims-fly-our-flag-in-indonesia/2007/10/27/1192941404000.html
Muslims fly our flag in Indonesia Taghred Chandab | October 28, 2007 EIGHT senior Muslim leaders from Australia will visit remote parts of Indonesia this week on a taxpayer-funded image-boosting mission. The delegates - Dr Ameer Ali, Shafiq Khan, Dr Amin Hady, Sheik Sabri Samson, Tom Zreika, Ikebal Patel, Jamila Hussain and Faiza El-Higzi - spent last week in Malaysia, where many locals see Australians as racist and intolerant. "Some people, even the legislators, feel that Australia is an anti-Muslim country because of our link to the US and UK," said Mr Zreika, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association. The Cronulla riots and a public debate over banning the hijab had worsened the problem. Mr Zreika said Malaysians were "all very surprised by how good life is as a Muslim in Australia". "They are even more shocked to hear we receive so much assistance from the very Government that is perceived to be oppressing Muslims." Source: The Sun-Herald