A nice way to convey advice

I agree with Mr. Peter Ganz of Semarang that foreigners should openly point out any shortcomings in Indonesia (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 4: Improved service vital for survival).

However, I wondered about his follow-on statement that the reason some foreign nationals are so blunt about it is because they love this country and its people. Isn't the real reason one of frustration and wanting to let out some of that pent-up anger?

Putting myself in the shoes of a foreigner who loves Indonesia, and wishing to make a difference here, I would carefully compose a letter and send it to one of the larger Indonesian-language newspapers. If I could not speak the language, I would first have it translated before dispatching it. Of course, if I really cared about Indonesia, I would have learned Bahasa Indonesia long ago.

I think even the Post would agree that an English-language newspaper is not the most effective medium to communicate complaints to Indonesian officialdom or private companies in this country. Look around any local government or private establishment here. Unless it has foreign staff or visiting guests from overseas, most likely the management will rely on an Indonesian-language newspaper as their primary source of information.

Actually some foreigners have done a good cross-cultural job of conveying complaints to Indonesians in their own language. I can remember at least three letters (to Kompas and Suara Pembaruan), within the past two years -- by Japanese citizens and one Australian, writing about problems encountered locally, and the letters almost certainly were widely read.

The Post occupies a special position in Indonesia -- it is read by bilingual Indonesians and the foreign community -- but one must understand that an attitude of "let them learn to speak and respond in English" does not necessarily go down well with the vast majority of citizens in this country.

Lastly, foreigners must develop the capacity to speak to Indonesians -- whether in government or private circles -- as peers, which of course they are, not as students who deserve a good, long lecture. In this case I am reminded of a very strident American contributor to the Post, whose letters are actually quite counter productive.

There is a nice but effective way to say almost anything, and our foreign guests need to learn that lesson if they want most Indonesians to listen, instead of resisting the well-meant advice.

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta