Obligation to build a nation<\/p>\n
This is a momentous time in Indonesia. The wind of change is
\nslowly but inexorably sweeping through the country. And why not?
\nWith imminent regionalization and globalization we will have the
\nworld knocking at our doorstep. And the world has changed faster
\nin the last two decades than it had in the previous two
\ncenturies. The people are becoming more educated, real-time
\ninformation is blazing at the speed of light from one corner of
\nthe globe to the other. Consequently, the people's aspirations
\nare also changing; they demand better lives for themselves,
\nbetter protection from the authorities and transparent justice
\nfrom the judicial system.<\/p>\n
And so must our agenda change. Take for example the recently
\ndebated issue of indigenous-nonindigenous tension. Half a century
\nago throngs of people from the southern provinces of China sailed
\nthe \"South Seas\" in their wooden junks to escape the tyranny of
\nthe northern Chinese government. These people arrived in the
\nneighboring countries of Hong Kong, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula
\nand Indonesia, mostly penniless but rich in dreams of economic
\nprosperity. They all had one agenda: wealth creation.<\/p>\n
Over the next few decades they worked hard to achieve this and
\nlater formed some of the largest business conglomerates in the
\nworld. While these business people undeniably contributed much to
\ntheir host countries' economic growth, they may have failed to
\nappreciate that a country's definition of success is much more
\nthan just the sum total of its money.<\/p>\n
Sofjan Wanandi's recent address on the complex issue of
\nindigenous-nonindigenous tension caused by the widening
\nsocioeconomic gap testifies to the shortsightedness of such a
\ndefinition (Sofjan Wanandi is currently the spokesman of the
\nJimbaran Group of tycoons). Over the past 30 years a lot of
\nwealth has been created in Indonesia. The totok (original)
\nChinese have achieved their agenda. They have made Indonesia
\ntheir home. They have changed their names. They have changed
\ntheir children's names. It is now time to change their agenda
\nfrom wealth creation to nation building. Indigenous and
\nnonindigenous alike we are all Indonesian citizens and we have a
\nnation to build.<\/p>\n
Sofjan Wanandi has called for an end to this destructive
\nindigenous-nonindigenous tension. The group that he represents
\nmust put all their weight in unity behind him and take the first
\nstep in the long and laborious process of building a great
\nnation. That means putting money where their mouths are and
\nsinking some of the profit dollars into community projects such
\nas health and education.<\/p>\n
Other business, communities and political leaders must also
\nembrace this new agenda and put it into action in their
\nrespective capacities.<\/p>\n
John D. Rockefeller Jr. pronounced that \"every right implies a
\nresponsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession
\na duty\". The wind of change is here, let us usher in a new era of
\ntrue prosperity in this great country together.<\/p>\n
DR. IWAN TUMEWA<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs' Organization<\/p>\n
Indonesia Chapter<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/obligation-to-build-a-nation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }