Welcome guests<\/p>\n
If there are welcome guests after the nation has celebrated
\nthe end of the fasting month of Ramadhan and the New Year, they
\nmust be coming from neighboring Singapore, led by Prime Minister
\nGoh Chok Tong, and accompanied by almost one hundred businessmen.
\nThe Prime Minister and his entourage arrived here on Jan. 13,
\n2000.<\/p>\n
The businessmen have come here to help revitalize the economy
\nthrough new investments, economic cooperation or financial aid
\npackages. It seems that Gus Dur's magic has worked in convincing
\nforeign interests that Indonesia is safe. After all, this country
\nis as vast as the continent of Europe, from London to Moscow, and
\nwhat happens in its small remote corners like Aceh, Maluku or
\nPapua does not reflect the general condition, as some press
\nreports may suggest.<\/p>\n
The general hope among the common people, many among them are
\nstill looking for better employment opportunities, is that with
\neach new foreign investment, the number of people in employment
\nshould increase. Whether Goh Chok Tong's mission can help to
\nimprove the economy in the immediate future is doubtful. But it
\ndramatizes the fact that international confidence in Indonesian
\neconomic planners has returned and Indonesian entrepreneurs
\nshould respond positively by indulging themselves less in
\nunlawful and immoral practices.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the stability of the Indonesian currency at about Rp
\n7,000 per dollar has contributed to the general optimism among
\nprospective investors. Prices and supplies of basic commodities
\nwithstood the New Year\/Idul Fitri storms, which is to the credit
\nof the newly elected administration.<\/p>\n
It has been a daring move, nevertheless, by the government to
\npropose a salary hike for civil servants and the military and
\npolice when the social fabric is just recovering and
\n\"provocateurs\" can show up anytime, anywhere and on the basis of
\njust about anything.<\/p>\n
The Singaporeans probably know too well that Indonesia's
\neconomic recovery is in trustworthy hands. Hopefully, other
\nmissions, if necessary from outer space, will also come to
\ndemonstrate support and confidence, with yet greater commitment
\nto help cure not only Indonesia's financial and material
\nillnesses but, and probably more importantly, the cure must also
\nbe directed at the moral decadence of the people.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/welcome-guests-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }