On dual citizenship

On dual citizenship

I recently heard from a good acquaintance that the director of
an important foreign-based project, which has its head office in
Jakarta, actually possesses an Indonesian passport and also a
west European one. When confronted with this fact, the director
reportedly stated that it was perfectly all right and that the
Indonesian passport was used for entering this country and moving
about without encumbrances.

As a native Indonesian I was more than just a little surprised
upon hearing this information, because, as far as I know,
according to Indonesian law, dual citizenship (Indonesian
citizenship and foreign citizenship) is illegal. Have the laws
regarding Indonesian citizenships changed recently? Or has this
director taken advantage of the regrettable fact that "almost
everything in Indonesia can be purchased with money"?

If the latter is the case, then we Indonesians, who have
allowed this shameful thing to happen in the first place, should
not be surprised if foreigners look down on us and treat us with
disregard if not outright contempt.

I would appreciate it if any readers of The Jakarta Postcould
provide me with information on this issue.

SOETAMI KOESTOMO
Bogor, West Java