Indonesians find Perth attractive<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consulate in Perth says about 10,000 Indonesians
\nare living in the Western Australian capital. About half are
\nstudents, the rest retired or in business.<\/p>\n
Probably the most famous are members of the Gudang Garam
\ntobacco empire who are reported to have spent millions of dollars
\non buying prime waterfront real estate. They include the family
\nof the company's president commissioner, Rachman Halim.<\/p>\n
Perth has long been a popular location for Indonesian property
\ninvestors, attracted by the state's proximity to Java. It takes
\nonly 3 hours 20 minutes to fly from Perth to Denpasar which is in
\nthe same time zone, and less than an hour extra to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Several up-market districts have become popular with well-
\nheeled Indonesians. These suburbs are close to universities, the
\nIndian Ocean and the Swan River.<\/p>\n
This is a calm, wide waterway that adds charm to an attractive
\nand well laid out city of around 1.5 million people. The
\nlifestyle is generally more relaxed than other Australian
\ncapitals.<\/p>\n
For those who can afford it, a house or apartment near
\neducation facilities gives the family a base while their
\noffspring are at school or university.<\/p>\n
The city's medical facilities have also been a draw card:
\nPolitician Taufiq Kiemas, the husband of former president
\nMegawati Sukarnoputri, is among many Indonesians who have had
\nmajor surgery in Perth.<\/p>\n
The recent violent clashes between young men from a Lebanese
\nbackground and those with an Anglo-Celtic heritage that occurred
\non Sydney beaches have not been duplicated in Perth.<\/p>\n
At least 27 Indonesian community organizations have been
\nformed in Perth. About 14 are Christian, four Islamic, including
\na branch of ICMI - the Association of Indonesian Muslim
\nIntellectuals.<\/p>\n
Some are specifically for students. Others represent ethnic
\ngroups, like the Balinese, and the Minangkabau from West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The last Australian census recorded that the majority of
\n47,000 Indonesian-born people living in Australia were women,
\nwell-educated, ethnic Chinese and Christian. More than 50 per
\ncent had become Australian citizens.<\/p>\n
(Duncan Graham)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-find-perth-attractive-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }