Obligation to build a nation

This is a momentous time in Indonesia. The wind of change is slowly but inexorably sweeping through the country. And why not? With imminent regionalization and globalization we will have the world knocking at our doorstep. And the world has changed faster in the last two decades than it had in the previous two centuries. The people are becoming more educated, real-time information is blazing at the speed of light from one corner of the globe to the other. Consequently, the people's aspirations are also changing; they demand better lives for themselves, better protection from the authorities and transparent justice from the judicial system.

And so must our agenda change. Take for example the recently debated issue of indigenous-nonindigenous tension. Half a century ago throngs of people from the southern provinces of China sailed the "South Seas" in their wooden junks to escape the tyranny of the northern Chinese government. These people arrived in the neighboring countries of Hong Kong, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, mostly penniless but rich in dreams of economic prosperity. They all had one agenda: wealth creation.

Over the next few decades they worked hard to achieve this and later formed some of the largest business conglomerates in the world. While these business people undeniably contributed much to their host countries' economic growth, they may have failed to appreciate that a country's definition of success is much more than just the sum total of its money.

Sofjan Wanandi's recent address on the complex issue of indigenous-nonindigenous tension caused by the widening socioeconomic gap testifies to the shortsightedness of such a definition (Sofjan Wanandi is currently the spokesman of the Jimbaran Group of tycoons). Over the past 30 years a lot of wealth has been created in Indonesia. The totok (original) Chinese have achieved their agenda. They have made Indonesia their home. They have changed their names. They have changed their children's names. It is now time to change their agenda from wealth creation to nation building. Indigenous and nonindigenous alike we are all Indonesian citizens and we have a nation to build.

Sofjan Wanandi has called for an end to this destructive indigenous-nonindigenous tension. The group that he represents must put all their weight in unity behind him and take the first step in the long and laborious process of building a great nation. That means putting money where their mouths are and sinking some of the profit dollars into community projects such as health and education.

Other business, communities and political leaders must also embrace this new agenda and put it into action in their respective capacities.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. pronounced that "every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession a duty". The wind of change is here, let us usher in a new era of true prosperity in this great country together.

DR. IWAN TUMEWA

Chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs' Organization

Indonesia Chapter

Jakarta