Condominium not for expats

This is in response to Jeremy Duncan Roy Gibbons' letter on Aug. 27, 1994. I have the impression that Gibbons is ill informed about conditions in Indonesia. Being a developing country does not mean that all the people are poor, all hoping to get money from expatriates.

According to a report in Newsweek there are currently about 20 million Indonesians who can afford a big house, who can eat in expensive restaurants and have at least one car in their garage (more than the whole population of Australia).

Most people who are spending Rp 200 million for a condominium in the city already have a Rp 200-million or more villa in the suburbs. Relatively very few who bought these condominiums are waiting for expatriates to rent them. Most of these buyers want a second home in the city for their children to have a residence within walking distance of campus, or a place in the middle of the city for a change.

I know of hardworking doctors in remote islands outside Java who bought an apartment on installment. Ten years from now when their children need higher education they will have a place where their studying children can live which is not too far from their schools.

All these people don't care whether expatriates are coming or going and will not rent their place to them.

A few of them who are waiting in vain for expatriates will ultimately switch to a better deal by selling their place to other Indonesians who are waiting impatiently for a chance to own a condominium.

Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo

Jakarta