On free exchange system
On free exchange system
This letter is intended as a response to Mr. Rachmat Basoeki
Soeropranoto's letter 'Abolish free exchange system' from Merdeka
as published by The Jakarta Post on Sept. 14.
First of all, I would like to duly suggest that I, too, am not
very excited about the idea of a free exchange system in
conjunction with the anticipated APEC era. To my mind, in fact,
many developing countries like Indonesia may not be the
propitious benefactors of such an all-out business environment.
We should compete whenever we feel sure that the base of our
economies are well prepared for the situations that might arise,
not to mention a healthy political system to further support the
economy. The resulting torment of perverted political maneuvers
may leave us in a terrible economic situation -- worse than we
could possibly cope with.
However, after pondering the writer's statement that:
"apatriotic business people -- most of them non-indigenous --
transferred more than US$100 billion in foreign exchange to
Singapore," I began to question the ethical thinking behind the
writer's statements. What does it have to do with one's personal
origins or ethnicity when one speaks about certain business
behavior? Was this letter written in the name of the so-called
"Nationalist Spirit," if not "Socialist Spirit?" Does it mean
that no sane businessmen in the future would be allowed to secure
their business interests? What brilliant ideas does the writer
suggest would enable these businessmen to maintain their
businesses not to mention to support the lives of their everyday
employees and families. How does the writer suppose that massive
lay-offs might sound to the poorer people of the nation? Would
they cheer upon hearing that they were losing their jobs in such
an instance? The true spirit of democracy upholds the idea of
safety and security for the people notwithstanding their
racial/ethnic backgrounds; it should also provide the people with
a healthy judicial system.
I begin to question further: How can this nation survive
through even the smallest of hardships if we harbor such
prejudice in our hearts? Should we suspect everyone including our
business partners, employers and employees of deceit for being
white/black or yellow? And how would this conception comfort
anyone here? Is it for the white, yellow, black or non-
indigenous? Or is it solely for the so-called indigenous people?
I don't think the Free Exchange System was the writer's topic at
all. Some people still morally prefer such no-holes-barred ways
of thinking that manifested into World War II fascism; my point
is that I think we are expecting too much here.
F. SUTANTO
Jakarta