Sydney, Australia, 12th March 2010 - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Australia yesterday after a short visit in which he met Australian officials and addressed Parliament. His address received a standing ovation and he was awarded an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia for being a 'true friend' and for "strengthening Australia-Indonesia relations, and promoting democracy and development in Indonesia".

Uthman Badar, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia, says in this regard,

"Rather than spearheading the implementation of the Shari'ah, the President has focused his efforts in implementing a foreign system on a people whose natural sentiments lie with Islam. Democracy is a bankrupt and irrational idea whereby man assigns to himself sovereignty to legislate according to his own whims and desires.

"At a time when all indicators are pointing to the decline and inevitable collapse of Western ideology - be it with regards to society, values, economics or politics - the Indonesian President prefers to be oblivious to this reality and instead steers his country down the path of ruin. It would be better for him to acknowledge the writing on the all and join the revival of Islam whereby he can save his land and people from the inherent corruption of secular liberalism, capitalism and democracy.

"Praise by Western Governments comes with a very grave indication, given that Islam clearly stipulates that the disbelievers will never be pleased with the Muslims until and unless we follow their way of life. It is obvious then that President Yudhoyono is being recognised for nothing more than implementing the Western agenda in Indonesia.

"The so-called 'War on Terrorism' represents little more than an agenda to combat the rising tide of Islam and the aspiration of the Muslims globally to live under the Shari'ah. By becoming a means for the execution of this agenda, and by siding with the true axis of evil, the President has betrayed Islam and the Muslims."