Malaysian ambassador goes from Jakarta to New York<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work. This may be
\nthe secret of the outgoing Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia
\nHamidon Ali.<\/p>\n
After having served as an ambassador to Indonesia for just two
\nyears -- at a particularly difficult time -- Hamidon has been
\npromoted as Malaysia's Ambassador\/Permanent Representative to the
\nUnited Nations in New York as recognition of his diplomatic
\nskills and approach in dealing with difficult times in bilateral
\nrelations.<\/p>\n
Ever since his submission of credentials on June 13, 2003 to
\nthen president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Hamidon has never had a
\nsmooth ride in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During his very brief period, Hamidon was forced to deal with
\nregular demonstrations in front of his office on issues like
\ndeportation of Indonesian illegal immigrants, illegal logging,
\nhuman trafficking and the sensitive Ambalat issue.<\/p>\n
"Frankly speaking, I never served before in Indonesia. Before
\ncoming here, I was the Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore.
\nMy posting here was like parachuting me into stormy waters. But
\nit's quite a worthwhile (experience) in understanding Indonesia,
\nits history, culture and its dynamic democracy in the context of
\nour relations. My experience in Indonesia was interesting and
\nabsolving," Hamidon, one of the Malaysia's top diplomats who has
\na Master's degree in public administration from Harvard
\nUniversity, told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview at
\nhis office recently.<\/p>\n
Despite all these problems between Malaysia and Indonesia,
\nHamidon said he and his wife Amy Low Abdullah really enjoyed
\ntheir stay in this country.<\/p>\n
"Though we have taken some extra precautions, we never
\nexperienced any personal problems. I know our country has
\nproblems with a small group of people. The vast majority of
\nIndonesians appreciates Malaysia and consider Malaysians as their
\nbrothers. This was evident when I visited several provinces where
\npeople received me as their friend and a brother," Hamidon said,
\nwhile adding Indonesians and Malaysians share the same religion,
\nlanguage and cultural values.<\/p>\n
"We are one big Malay family. Our bilateral problems are like
\nthe problems of two brothers in a family," said Hamidon, a
\nfrequent visitor to gyms, and also a painter.<\/p>\n
Hamidon said Indonesia is upbeat and vital to everybody in
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. As a
\nneighbor, Malaysia needs Indonesia in terms of land for oil palm
\nplantations and human resources. We want to see Indonesia as a
\nstable and prosperous country. If Indonesia prospers, we also
\nprosper," Hamidon, who graduated from Australia's Monash
\nUniversity, said.<\/p>\n
When asked about his secret in dealing with difficult
\nsituations, Hamidon said he adopted a cautious approach.<\/p>\n
"I managed the situation by keeping a level head. Even my
\nstaff said the Ambassador was so cool headed. I didn't talk to
\nthe media for some time. Thank God, I was given that capacity not
\nto overreact and not be emotional. I waited patiently for
\nsituation to calm down," Hamidon, who joined the Malaysian
\nAdministrative and Diplomatic Service in 1974.<\/p>\n
As a diplomat, one has to deal with good as well as bad times.
\nThere lies one's expertise in the art of diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Hamidon is not an ordinary man. He is an experienced and adept
\ncareer-diplomat who understands the subtleties of international
\npolitics, the fine lines, the tight ropes, and the balancing acts
\nrequired to create any type of consensus.<\/p>\n
The 55-year-old diplomat -- whose mother is an Indonesian,
\nBugis, and father is a Chinese -- is a specialist in dealing with
\nmultilateral issues. He was once Ambassador\/Permanent
\nRepresentative to the United Nations Office in Geneva.<\/p>\n
"I have lot of experience in dealing multilateral issues. I do
\nnot have much experience in dealing with bilateral issues. Thanks
\nto my job in Indonesia, I gained lot of experience in dealing
\nwith bilateral issues," Hamidon said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign officials, according to
\nHamidon, are professional diplomats, friendly and very
\ncooperative.<\/p>\n
"I have lots of appreciation for Indonesian diplomats. They
\nare always friendly and cooperative. We have a bright future. I
\nam confident that these bilateral problems can be solved through
\nnegotiations," Hamidon said, who speaks fluent Malay, English,
\nMandarin and French.<\/p>\n
While talking about his new posting in New York, Hamidon said
\nit would be a challenging task.<\/p>\n
"It's like going back to my domain (multilateral
\nnegotiations). But given the present situation in world politics,
\nit will be challenging task. There is a huge debate about United
\nNations reforms and the expansion of the UN Security Council and
\nlot of other issues that affect developing countries. Anyhow, I
\nam ready for this new challenge," Hamidon said.<\/p>",
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