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