TONGA is the most obese country in the world. Up to 40% of the population is thought to have type 2 diabetes and life expectancy is falling. One of the main causes is a cheap, fatty kind of meat - mutton flaps - imported from New Zealand.

With a stern expression crossing her face, 82-year-old Papiloa Bloomfield Foliaki almost leaps from her seat to show us something she says will help us understand.

She comes back into the sitting room of her small hotel in Nuku A'Lofa, Tonga's capital, brandishing a large model of an ancient wooden boat.

"We Tongans rowed here, across thousands and thousands of miles of sea, in boats like these. Then we flipped them over and used the old boats as houses."

She frowns. "But, nobody wants Tongan houses any more, because something Western, something modern, people think is better, people associated Tongan style of homes with poverty.

"Just like with our food."

The traditional Tongan diet is fish, root vegetables and coconuts, as you might expect for a palm-fringed island in the middle of the Pacific.

But at some point in the middle of the 20th Century, offcuts of meat began arriving in the Pacific islands - including turkey tails from the US and mutton flaps from New Zealand.

They were cheap and became hugely popular.

"People think something imported is superior," says Foliaki, a former nurse, activist and politician, who now works in the hotel business, despite being one of few Tongans over the age of 80.

"And you have a situation where fishermen spear their fish - sell it - and go and buy mutton flaps. People don't have the education to know what is bad for their health."

What are mutton flaps?

• The low-quality end of a sheep's rib - connected to the high-quality ribs and spare ribs - also known as breast
• Every 100g includes approximately 40g fat (half of it saturated fat) and contains 420 calories
• Flaps make up 9-12% of a sheep's carcass by weight, but only 3-5 % by value
• In the Pacific, they are sometimes the only cut of the animal found on sale
• New Zealand and Australia sell large quantities of mutton flaps to China, Mexico and African countries
• In Europe they are used in doner kebabs

Source: Deborah Gewertz and Frederick Errington, authors of Flap Food Nations in the Pacific Islands

In 1973, 7% of the population were suffering from non-communicable disease - a phrase that has come to be used as synonymous with diabetes in Tonga. By 2004 the figure was 18%. It is now 34% according to the Tongan Health Ministry, though some think the figure could be as high as 40%.

"There's this whole generation in Tonga that was brought up on mutton flaps," says Sunia Soakai, a health planning officer for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

"Mutton flaps are the discarded parts of the lamb that are not fit for consumption in New Zealand. They were able to dump this stuff on the Pacific countries."

Tongan fishermen still catch fish by spear, mostly at night, returning well before dawn.

Customers who want the best of the catch come down to meet them off the boat. Others can turn up at the little fish market in the port's car park later in the morning. Source: BBC World News

The Sugar Industry in Fiji has been totally politicised by the Fiji First Government. This is unprecedented in the history of the industry since the enactment of the Sugar Industry Act in 1984, which made the industry and its stakeholders independent with no interference from Government.
 
The latest case that is a testimony to this sad reality is the appointment of the Sugar Cane Growers Fund Board (SCGF). This follows amendment to the Fund Act Cap 207 by the Fiji First Government in Parliament last August.
 
The Board of the Fund, which is 100 percent owned by the cane growers of Fiji, has only 20% representation on the Board. The Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council is the sole growers’ representative on the five member Board. This is 20% representation on the Board of the Fund in which growers have 100% stake.
 
The Board Chairman is the Acting Permanent Secretary for Sugar with other members being the Chairman of Fiji Sugar Corporation, the Sugar Industrial Commissioner from the Sugar Industry Tribunal and the Tribunal Accountant. The Prime Minister has made all appointments including that of Board Chairman in his capacity as Minister for Sugar.
 
Previously there used to be a four member Board with the Sugar Commission Chairman as Board Chairman, an appointee of the Sugar Minister, the CEO of the SCGC and his nominee as another member.
 
This is yet another example of absolute politicisation with control of the Board vested in the Prime Minister. He has re-ignited painful memories of the dictatorial attitude of the CSR (Colonial Sugar Refining Company Ltd) when the CSR imposed their authoritarian decisions on growers.
 
We now have the Executive Chairman of the FSC who makes decisions for growers on marketing of sugar, who is also Chairman of South Pacific Fertilizers which is also 100 percent owned by growers through the Growers Fund (90%) and Growers Council (10%), and now is a member of the Fund Board administering the use of funds totally owned by growers.
 
This is precisely why the NFP opposed changes to the Growers Fund Act as well as the Sugar Industry Act to change the composition of the Growers Council Board because instead of democratizing these institutions, the changes would thoroughly politicise them.
 
This is a clear case of nepotism and cronyism with transparency and accountability becoming meaningless. The Prime Minister will appoint even the Growers Council Board and its Chairman.
 
True democracy, which is being trumpeted by the Fiji First Government, has been given a new meaning as far as the sugar industry and cane growers as its largest stakeholders are concerned.
 
Fiji First Government is making growers subservient and powerless as well as denying them the fundamental right to make decisions even in institutions totally owned by them, with authority and control of their funds, assets and livelihood placed in political appointees made by a single person.
 
Biman Prasad
Leader

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has charged a Businessman and three Military officers for Bribery under Section 4 of the Prevention of Bribery Promulgation No. 12 of 2007.


Ajesh Sharma, Manager Sales of Buildex Marketing Limited is charged with two counts of Bribery alongside Waisale Sorokacika and Elazar Adrian Luciano while, in a separate incident, he (Sharma) was charged for one count of Bribery alongside Josese Radaniva Vusoniceva.

In the first incident, it is alleged that Ajesh Sharma, between the period 1st April 2014 and 31st August 2015, at Labasa in the Northern Division, whilst being Manager Sales of Buildex Marketing Limited, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered advantages to the sum of F$5,404 to Waisale Sorokacika, an Assistant Purchasing Clerk in the Accounts Section of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Engineers Unit, on account of Sorokacika’s performing an act in his capacity as a public servant.

Further to that, it is also alleged that Sharma, between the period 1st August 2015 and 31st August 2015, at Labasa in the Northern Division, offered advantages to the sum of F$600 to Elazar Adrian Luciano, an Accounts Warrants Officer in the Accounts Section of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Engineers Unit, on account of Luciano’s performing an act in his capacity as a public servant.

Sorokacika and Luciano are also alleged to have accepted the said advantages from Sharma without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to do so during the same periods.

In a separate incident it is also alleged that the same Ajesh Sharma between the period 1st January and 30th September 2015, at Labasa in the Northern Division, whilst being the Manager Sales of Buildex Marketing Limited, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered advantages to a total sum of F$9,906 to Josese Radaniva Vusoniceva, a Works Warrant Officer with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Engineers Unit, on account of the named officer performing an act in his capacity as a public servant.

Josese Radaniva Vusoniceva is alleged to have accepted the said advantage from Sharma without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to do so.

All the Accused have been released on strict bail conditions and asked to report to their nearest Police Station. Additionally, Sharma surrendered his travel documents to Court, as directed by Learned Resident Magistrate Waleen George when they first appeared before her on the 3rd of December, 2015.

Dinger to Washington after Bainimarama's 2006 coup:

Interim PM "Firm" in His Directive to Remove Barriers But Willing to Give Diplomacy a Shot

Parmesh Chand, the PM Office Permanent Secretary, met with the Ambassador again on 4/18, accompanied by MFA PermSec Ross Ligairi. Chand said Commodore Bainimarama is still firm in his desire to remove barriers on Loftus Street and open the street to traffic. Nevertheless, he has agreed to delay action to remove the barriers for the time being so that further bilateral discussions can take place. Friday, April 20 is no longer a deadline. Chand said Bainimarama wants to know if the U.S. can see any other options to protect the Embassy, short of keeping the barriers in place. One idea, said Chand, might be to increase police presence in the area, including erecting a police post on the street corner. Chand emphasized that the interim government is willing to be "flexible" as to the time frame for removing the barriers while the two sides try to work out a solution. 3. (C) The Ambassador replied that, from the U.S. perspective, the best solution would be to extend the time the barriers are in place by two years, at which time the Embassy will be prepared to move into a new building, assuming the "NEC visa" issue can be resolved. The Ambassador noted that the presence of a police post, without barriers at which cars are stopped and checked, would only result in more deaths to Fiji citizens if a terrorist attack on the Embassy takes place. The Ambassador admitted he is not a security expert and promised to advise Washington of the interim government's request for "more options." However, he expressed pessimism that any solution which permits a free flow of traffic will be satisfactory. Chand said he understands, but underscored that he is attempting to find a diplomatic solution. While the interim PM remains "pretty firm" on the need to open the street, the fact that he has welcomed continued discussion is significant. In late p.m. when a news website reported Chand saying discussions had taken place but the Friday deadline remains in place, we phoned Chand, who said, no, he had briefed Bainimarama who had agreed that, with diplomacy continuing about "compromises," Friday is not the deadline. - Larry Dinger to Washington after the 2006 coup

Fiji Labour Party (Facebook)
January 15

Russian arms shipment causes ‪#‎alarm‬

The arrival of a huge shipment of Russian arms into the country in a highly surreptitious manner is a matter of grave public concern.

It was obviously the intention of the Bainimarama government to ‪#‎smuggle‬ the consignment into the country unbeknown to the people.

We should consider ourselves fortunate that Opposition MP Ratu Isoa Tikoca exposed this nefarious plot through his intelligence sources.

According to a statement issued by him yesterday, the consignment includes a helicopter and ‪#‎armoured‬ vehicles among other dangerous weapons.

Once exposed, government was quick to explain it away as a gift from Russia to be used for our peace keepers abroad. But why did we seek such a gift in the first place?

Our peace keeping force is equipped by the United Nations and the weapons they use are deployed away from our shores. Why do we need to bring in a shipload of such arms into Fiji?

‪#‎What‬ precisely is the agenda here?

The highly ‪#‎clandestine‬ nature of the arms shipment has grave implications for our national security and the safety of our people.

The ‪#‎RFMF‬ is now viewed by many as a very politicised institution, serving first and foremost the interests of the high command of the FF government. We have had two Bainimarama appointed commanders in less than two years, since he left.

The first, Tikoitoga who replaced him was forced out barely 12 months later to be replaced by Naupoto whose appointment itself has created much controversy.

This is the first time in our history that such a huge shipment of arms, has been brought into Fiji from a ‪#‎communist‬ country.

FLP demands a full disclosure on the contents of the 20 containers of arms and a truthful answer as to why they are needed. The Russian link to this whole episode of arms shipping is alarming in itself.

Statement
[125/15/1/2016]
 
Independent Education Commission is the SOLUTION!!
 
Education is said to be the most important investment any Government can make and has far reaching implications that can assist in defying socio-economic norms and realities as well as helping grow Fiji economically. I believe Educational reform is also worth any cost and should not be bound by political point scoring or Government propaganda
 
I acknowledge that the Fiji First Party has picked up the baton from the Military backed Interim Government of 2007 to 2014, and have tried to push forward Education Reform that to date are questionable and impractical
 
As a former Minister for Education, I understand too well the complaints and challenges of the Education System, it is not a problem that can be solved overnight but it is a problem that can be solved by deep rational engagement with all stakeholders and the citizens of Fiji including our current consumers of the Education Sector. 
 
In response to Dr. Reddy’s call to attend consultations on the state of our Education System, the Office of the Leader of Opposition held a one day Consultation on the 5th of January 2016.
 
Three main priority issues were presented to the Minister and his Staff during their Ministerial consultation on the 8th January. These include:

1. A Moratorium be placed on all education reforms until an Independent Education Commission is established to review the Education system and a report submitted to Parliament and adopted. The establishment of an independent Education Commission is imperative for the sustainable Education system in Fiji.
2. That the $7 million allocation in the 2016 Budget, for the establishment of 10 Technical Colleges be redirected to upgrade existing Vocational Schools throughout Fiji, pending the tabling of the Report from the proposed Independent Education Commission.

1. Lastly Fiji’s Scholarship system needs to be reviewed immediately, to assess whether it meets the access, availability and affordability tests as per social justice norms.

As it stands, poor educational outcomes and inefficient education systems are of deep concern worldwide, and Fiji does not stand alone. In many countries, primary schools fail to provide students with appropriate cognitive skills like numeracy, literacy, problem-solving ability and general scientific knowledge.

Furthermore, inadequate education at the secondary and tertiary levels, including technical and vocational education and training, is leaving students ill-equipped to meet the job market’s changing demands. As a result, many countries are struggling with a mismatch between the skills that employers seek and those that workers have.

An Independent Education Commission and a real desire to implement fair and effective educational change is needed now more than ever to reform our Education standards and push Fiji into the 21ST Century

I applaud the Prime Minister’s Desire to leave “free education programme” behind as his legacy as reported this morning on the FBC website.
 
However, I must emphasize that quality and affordable free education will only be a reality if there is a comprehensive review of the Education System by an Independent Education Commission. 
 
Authorized By:                          
Ro Teimumu Kepa

The Honourable Prime Minister
Government Buildings
Suva

2nd December, 2015.

Dear Sir,

RE: MICRO MANAGING EDUCATION MINISTRY BY THE HON MINISTER, DR MAHENDRA REDDY

Ni sa bula Vinaka Turaga Na Prime Minister. I would like to raise my concern and inform you of what is happening at the Ministry of Education which may warrant your intervention.

Recent changes made in the Ministry of Education by the Hon Minister is like a whirlwind where with one swoop of his hand, he has introduced reforms that are demoralising the entire work force from the administrative level to the teachers on the ground. He has virtually disregarded the role of the operational head of the Ministry as stipulated in Section 127 – (2) of the 2013 Constitution, which says that “each Ministry is to be under the administration of the Permanent Secretary”.

Reforms

In Parliament, on Tuesday, 25th August, Dr Reddy announced in his Ministerial statement that he has introduced a 3 tier reform which are ill conceived and not widely consulted even amongst his senior staff.

These reforms like the many that he has introduced without consultation at the Ministry level and disseminated to the teachers who will implement them will only bring about low morale and fear. These changes have demoralised the entire Ministry and by cracking his whip telling them that this is the way it’s going to be and how it’s going to be is showcasing his dictatorial attitude on all those under his leadership.

A case in point is the assessment issue in which he had announced early in the year that teachers are going to be assessed on a ratio of 60-20-20. This means that 60 should come from work carried out, 20 from the supervisors and 20 from the students for years 12 and 13.

Just recently, roving principals are going to schools and informing teachers that assessment procedures have changed. A sudden change such as this not only increases the anxiety on the teachers but it has placed an extra burden on the teachers and psychologically affects their output in as far as their results in examinations are concerned.

Reporting Line

The Ministry has no structure in terms of reporting especially from education officers to senior education officers to Director Level. Now with the new reforms, everyone is reporting directly to the Minister and the Permanent Secretary is bypassed especially in the decision making process.
 
Appointments

Section 127 –(8) The PS of each Ministry with the agreement of the Minister responsible for the ministry has the authority to determine all matters pertaining to the employment of all staff in the ministry, including –

1. The terms and conditions of employment
2. The qualification requirements for appointment and the process to be followed for appointment, which be an open, transparent and competitive selection process based on merit;
3. The salaries, benefits and allowances payable , in accordance with its budget as approved by parliament; and
4. The total establishment or the total number of staff that are required to be appointed, in accordance with the budget as approved by parliament.

Appointments are made by the Hon Minister without the proper procedures as stipulated in the constitution and the PS is not functioning in the Ministry as the Minister is the sole authority who determines all these. There are 17 research officers at CDU and are paid at $24,000+ and are not even budgeted nor approved by parliament and worse still is way over the total establishments needed. One wonders if the Hon Prime Minister knows about this or realise the implications of these reforms.

The Senior Education Officer Chemistry came straight from USP to this position after graduation and who appoints the officer, none other than the Minister. There is a procedure in place and unfortunately is not being followed and anyone appointed is only through the Minister. Mrs Basundra Kumar during her tenure as acting PS, questioned the dictatorial attitude of Mr Reddy. She was not given a fair hearing and now she is history despite the fact that she had approached the Prime Minister about her case.

The current acting PS is dysfunctional due to the Minister taking over her role. She is just like a puppet and does not carry out her duties as spelt out in the constitution because her role has been taken over by the dictator.

There are 14 Directors in the Ministry. Were these positions budgeted? Will they contribute to the success rate of the Ministry? One can only wait and see the effectiveness of the changes made. The Director Technical College position was supposed to be awarded to Mr Eci Naisele and through the Hon Minister’s intervention, the post was given to another officer who was not qualified. Mr Naisele has the necessary experience and competency but he was overlooked because of the connection the promotee had with the Minister.

It would be interesting to make a head count at the number of Fijians with Indian decent being promoted recently at the Ministry when he became Minister for Education. It is quite scary.

Teachers

Teachers are his mercy and he is ready to castigate and lay his blame on them. Now a case in point is the recent suicide of the three primary students. He has blamed his officer for carrying out his own instructions that schools must do well or the teachers will face the full consequences. It was through him and now he does not want it to be viewed that the directive originated from him. He is not fit to lead the Ministry of Education. He has brought fear amongst his teachers and officers. He has not even considered them for their hard work by way of a pay rise. It’s time to give credit where it is due. I have said this in Parliament regarding teachers’ pay and he does not even respond well to my questions.

The issue on pay rise has been raised many times and with Christmas just around the corner, it would be a positive move to give them what they deserve as these teachers are the implementers of the many reforms being introduced. I plead with your high office and as well as the Hon Minister to give these teachers and all civil servants a pay rise before the year ends. I am sure that there are savings which can be utilised to cater for this.

And as for those students who had taken their lives, they would not have done what they did, if they were not forced to pass and teachers are simply just carrying out what they have been directed to do, by telling their students to pass or else.

Now the Hon Minister is reneging on his directive that all students will have to be assessed and then not to move up to higher level if they don’t do well and now he is singing a different tune when those students took their lives. He cannot take the blame and the sad thing about this is the fact that this loss happened under his watch and in a primary school which is history in the making. He is clever to be seen consoling the grieving parents and as a matter of fact, he is to be blamed and he should be ashamed of himself. These parents should take him to court. This is usually the case where someone wants to take all the credit and unfortunately this time it’s backfiring on his face.

Let us hope that we do not see this happening after Year 12 and Year 13 exam results come out and unfortunately, we are still waiting for Year 8 results.

Managerial Post

The Fiji Teacher Registration Board has its own manager just like the Post Processing Unit. The change in title as introduced by Reddy is made to please his own self and no one is benefitting, especially the community it has been tasked to serve.

What is a Manager in an education system? What is his/her role? Why the change in title? Is there a need?

Hon Prime Minister, I am concerned and so do others who have asked me to write to you. The Ministry needs your intervention and you can see for yourself on what is happening or do you? The Hon Minister for Health would have been the ideal choice and alas, here we have someone who hasn’t the faintest idea and also doesn’t care to heed advice, and running the Ministry like a dictator.

Please change the Minister as under his leadership, people have died and how many more are very scary to think of.

Merry Christmas Hon Prime Minister!

Sincerely

Hon Mikaele Leawere
Member of the Opposition

11 January 2016

To: The Director Town and Country Planning
       Losana Rokotuibau

Re: Conditions of Approval for Shirley Park Lot 1ND 5149 Lautoka

I refer to the Conditions of Approval for the rezoning of Shirley Park which was sent to the objectors of whom I am one.

On the 18th December 2015, P Meghji commenced groundbreaking in Shirley [Park] behind an area of the park that has now been fenced off to the public.

On the 17th and 18th December and on the Monday week following  (Monday 21st December 2015 ), I rang the office of the Director Town and Country Planning Suva,  the office of the Director of  of Environment Suva and on their advice the Department of Environment West Lautoka, and the Lautoka City Council building section 

Among those  I spoke to  were several  senior staff including Rajieli Taylor.

My query related to point 6 of the Conditions of Approval that states, That an Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) Report is to be prepared in consultation with the Director of Environment. The Terms of Reference (TOR) to be prepared in liason with the Director of Environment. The  EIA report to be lodged with the outline building application. Approved copies of the respective construction and operational management reports (CEMP and OEMP) shall be submitted to the DTCP for records of reference.

On the 18th December 2015, the Director of Environment Aminiasi Qareqare's office informed me that they had no known  EIA assessment  carried out or passed for Shirley Park, and I was to refer to the Department of Environment West who confirmed the same.

The Lautoka City Council Building section also confirmed that the EIA had not been done  and that building application approval had yet to be passed. 

I was also informed by the Lautoka City Council that the EIA would be done after  groundbreaking.

I would appreciate an explanation of how it is that groundbreaking permission was given before any of the above conditions were first carried out? 

Groundbreaking for the developer acknowledges and confirms all the Conditions of Approval have been met and complied with to proceed. 

Information from all the relevant office's of authority concerned inform us that this was not the case.

Ms Raijeli Taylor Principal Officer Town and Country Planning informed me that that any instructions for ground breaking would come from the Director Town and Country Planning? 

I was also told she would be consulting with the Lautoka City Council office on the points I raised, however no one from your office returned the call.

Point 9 of the Conditions of Approval sent to all the objectors informs us that, The balance Area of Lot 1 ND5149 and part of DP1805 shall be maintained specifically for passive recreation for the use of the public. The Lautoka City Council and any third party shall be inclusive in its design of the proposed passive and active recreational area and must work in collaboration with residents and ratepayers of Lautoka city so as to maximize the functional area of the communal open space.

I refer to point 9 and the Minister for Local Government, Environment and Infrustructure Parveen Bala's comments in the Fiji Times (19/12/15, which I also questioned  in the  Fiji Times 29/12/15 ) 

He confirms in this article that the remaining area of Shirley Park will be developed by Meghji Group into an 8 hole golf course and a children's park.

I would like to know how the Minister for Local Government and the Meghji group made this decision without following  through with any consultation with the residents and ratepayers of Lautoka as per point 9 of the Conditions of Approval?

As an objector who was included in receiving official documentation that relates to the Rezoning of Shirley Park, I would also like to know if the Conditions of Approval that we received, stamped by the Director of Town and Country Plannings Office (22/4/2015) has since changed in any way.
 
Point 9 also states and includes an area DP1805, which was not part of the original area  for rezoning and was removed  last year when pointed out by the objectors. 

Is this area included in the fenced off area, and if not, is this area to be resubmitted for rezoning to be included as part of the Meghji property ?

Maude Elbourne
President, 
Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association

Statement
[124/12/1/2016]
 
Why Is Russian Consignment of 20 Containers Arriving in Fiji Port Under Cloudy Circumstances?
 
"The Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs has expressed outrage at the arrival of a Russian consignment of 20 containers where it is understood that the Police has been barred from monitoring the offloading of these containers by a private security firm, Home Link Security Services Limited.
 
“Why is a private security company owned by about 2,000 Territorial Force members and ex-servicemen including board member representation from officers in the RFMF usurping the role of the Police which is to manage the internal security of the nation?” queried Hon Ratu Isoa Tikoca. What’s all the secrecy about and who is really in charge of our Internal Security?
 
Ratu Isoa said this was highly irregular and he understood that the consignment of 20 containers from Russia consisted of arms, 2 trucks and a helicopter which needs to be explained to the people by the Minister for Defence and discussed in Parliament.
 
Two Russian general cargo vessels Solidat (call sign: UBEE) and St Confidence (call sign: UESZ) were due to arrive today."

INTERIM FINANCE MINISTER MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY DEFENDS VISA-FREE ACCESS FOR CHINESE

Fiji's Daily Post,  3 September, 2007

Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says the fact that Chinese nationals can come into the country now without any visa will not be a threat the country.

Chaudhry's comments follow concerns raised by certain sectors of the
community who are worried that exempting Chinese nationals from visa
requirements to enter the country might backfire. Some say that experiences involving Chinese nationals was not "a healthy sign".

Major religious groups are already predicting a rise in underground prostitution and mafia-type dealings if the system is not checked properly. But Chaudhry said yesterday he did not see any possible threat because the Chinese nationals would also have to adhere to immigration rules and policies.

"Everyone who comes to Fiji regardless of their colour, gender or where they come from have to meet the appropriate laws and regulations before they can enter Fiji. It is the responsibility of the Immigration and Customs Authority to ensure that we don't have any illegal immigrant into this country," he said.

"I know recently some people have been exaggerating in allowing Chinese nationals from mainland China without visas and this will pose a major danger. But I think if the appropriate authorities responsible in Fiji keep alert then there should not be problem as such."

He said it was not right to discriminate against a particular race of people and make decisions on false predictions.

Chaudhry said the law would deal with any Chinese who broke the law, adding that the police, customs and immigration officials had to play their role.

"The relevant government officials, police and the immigration have an important role to play in this and if they do their jobs properly than I don't see any major problem," Chaudhry added.