Australia racist, what about you?

I am referring to the article by Farish A. Noor published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 16 titled Disturbances in Australia: Introspection now required.

It is always amusing to read how intellectuals of, for instance Malaysia, like to accuse western countries like Australia of being racist, xenophobic, white supremacist, anti- immigration, colonial minded -- you name it.

While unfortunately too many individuals exist in every country -- I repeat every country -- that can indeed be labeled as racist etc., this generalization seems unfair.

Does Noor, a Malaysian, apply the same criticizing scrutiny to his country? With its enduring Bumiputra Laws (special benefits for the Malay race) for instance, Malaysia has institutionalized racism. His country also recently expelled thousands of Indonesian workers -- who have helped build up the country -- in a fascist-like way. Neither does Indonesia itself have a perfect record when it comes to immigration, friendliness or racial tolerance. Shouldn't we compare these elements with those of Australia?

In the same article, Noor blames the Australians for their historical crimes against aborigines. At least Australians have admitted their crimes. We should not forget the fate of numerous other ethnic groups like the orang asli (Indigenous Malay) in Malaysia for instance.

The process of encroachment, ethnic warfare, dispossession of sovereignty and territory and genocide, has been going on for a long time and continues today throughout the region and beyond. Some people in Malaysia seem to want to suggest that this is purely a "white" phenomenon. Isn't that suggestion in itself racist too?

After all, looking at history with different subjective time frames and distances, we are all immigrants as well as indigenous, colonialists as well as colonized; victims as well as victimizers.

If the "poor" Australians can travel to Bali, while many Indonesians don't have that privilege, should we blame Australia for that?

If Indonesia would make good use of its enormous potential wealth and distribute it more equally, I am sure Australians would be doing everything to attract Indonesian tourists or investors too. On the other hand, at this time, Indonesia is not really at risk of being flooded by poor under-skilled immigrants looking for welfare benefits, and yet, it keeps its gates firmly shut for any type of immigrant.

FRANK SWEENEY, Newcastle, Australia