Sony's exit a national case<\/p>\n
I was surprised to read Coordinating Minister for the Economy
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti's comments on the Sony Corporation's
\nplan to leave Indonesia in the Nov. 29 edition of Kompas.<\/p>\n
\"Don't blow up one case to make it look like it's a national
\none,\" he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
As a common citizen, I would like to tell him that it is a
\nnational case.<\/p>\n
The plan to shut down Sony's audio equipment plant in Bekasi,
\nWest Java, is part of its global business network. But for us
\nIndonesians, the decision has the same effect of a snowball
\nrolling down a hill.<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun, as well as Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS
\nSoewandi, who said that we could do nothing about it, may have
\nforgotten the fact that Sony is not the first foreign investor to
\nflee. This reflects poorly on the investment climate of this
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Doesn't Dorodjatun see that the loss of foreign investments
\nwill contribute to an increase in the country's unemployment?
\nIsn't unemployment a national problem? Doesn't he realize that
\neach Sony employee being laid off has dependents or families? He
\nmust be aware that unemployment leads to crime. Never belittle
\nany problem, sir!<\/p>\n
When the Thai baht fell in 1997, all Indonesian officials,
\nespecially economic ministers, stated in the media that \"our
\nrupiah is all right. Our monetary fundamentals are strong. There
\nis nothing to worry about.\" Then the rupiah started dropping
\nagainst the U.S. dollar and the national disaster began. This
\ncountry's economy has yet to recover, while Thailand has regained
\nits economy.<\/p>\n
So Dorodjatun and Rini, please be careful when making public
\nstatements. If you could do nothing about this incident then what
\ncan you do as ministers? Why didn't you take preventive steps
\nbefore Sony decided to leave this country? Please be honest with
\nthe fact that the country still has a myriad of problems, many of
\nwhich have discouraged foreign investors here.<\/p>\n
MAHISA RESPATI, Tangerang, Banten<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sonys-exit-a-national-case-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }