A 'we can' attitude
A 'we can' attitude
Ever since I came to Indonesia, I have seen a tremendous
amount of optimism and growth in almost all sectors of the
economy, whether in infrastructure projects or in private sector
projects. It seemed that an industrialist could do and build
almost anything he or she wanted. The moral support extended by
the government to industry has been very strong compared to other
governments throughout the world. I would credit this to the
optimism and positive outlook on the part of the nation's leaders
who have shown a Kami bisa (we can) attitude -- an ability to
look into the future and march on with confidence.
In the past few months, we have all been witnessing a dramatic
fall in the currencies of almost all the region's countries. The
fall of the Indonesian rupiah has been even more drastic in the
last few weeks. The fact that a country with such a positive
outlook could be shaken with baseless rumors is absolutely
outrageous. The crisis, I believe, is more due to the fickle
minds of so-called investors.
All the Southeast Asian countries have been in such a strong
phase of progress and development that the whole world looked up
to them as places where a lot of money could be made. They came
rushing in when the sun shined. These same "investors" did not
even bat an eyelid while they pulled out their money when the
going got rough. Can we really call such people investors? Is
this the confidence they have while making investments in such a
vast country? To me they should be termed, at the least, as only
profiteers and not investors. Such people should not be allowed
to enter the markets at all.
We have been learning that a small group of people, sitting in
some foreign land, have been behind all this. I wonder whether
they have even thought of all the consequences of their actions.
For a small short-term gain, they have brought such buoyant
economies to the verge of collapse. God forbid, what would happen
if, due to the burden of the rupiah's depreciation, companies
that provide employment to millions of people start going
bankrupt? One dreads to even imagine the locks hanging on the
doors of factories that once used to be some of the most
efficient and profitable in the world. The people responsible for
this are the same people who advocate "free trade" and open
borders. Is this why their free trade is required -- so that one
can loot the country and make a run for it?
It is really tragic that such a thing happens in countries
that are still developing. These countries need a tremendous
amount of support from their fellow citizens of the world. These
kinds of crises will only set back the clock and put the
economies very much back in time. I am sure that, at such a time,
none of the so-called investors will be back to lend a helping
hand. They will be busy ruining some other country.
The real investors are those who stay with the country in
times of crises -- a friend who helps in times of need is a
friend indeed.
Even with all the crises, one has a feeling of quaint optimism
that all will be well soon. This is probably due to confidence in
the same positive outlook that has earlier fostered rapid growth.
The 'kami bisa' attitude is probably what will make the economies
bounce back even more ferociously when they start reaping the
advantages of a depreciated currency. It would be then that they
pay back in the same coin the people who plotted their ruin. May
God bless this beautiful country and region and its people.
S. AGRAWAL
Karawang, West Java