PM Goh's visit to Indonesia

PM Goh's visit to Indonesia

The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong put in solid business in his short visit to Jakarta and Bogor this week. Showing solidarity with the Indonesian people and government after the dreadful blow inflicted on Bali was not a matter of symbolism.

There is self-interest riding on both sides. Nothing is to be gained fudging the fact that an implosion in Indonesia, whether of secessionist or terrorist origins, would be devastating for all of South-east Asia's core nations. Singapore will be worst hit for being totally dependent on trade and investment.

Indonesia's neighbors thus have a stake in how Jakarta seeks to overcome the 'bad press' (Goh's words) and the terrorism jitters accentuated by the Bali attack. If Jakarta needs help to counter bad vibes, it should be offered readily. A Jakarta Post account of Goh's meeting with Islamic leaders said Ahmad Syafii Maarif, chairman of the influential Muhammadiyah, asked the Prime Minister what would happen if Indonesia collapsed. "He said Singapore would also collapse," Syafii said Goh replied. Against that backdrop of stark realism, Goh's call achieved two useful things.

Foremost was that his talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on the terrorism issue brought an undertaking for more cooperation to root out terrorist cells. Details would be welcome, as there remains skepticism as to how far Indonesia can go in ordering preventive security operations and keeping watch on radical Islam.

In this regard, there was great value in Goh meeting the heads of the two largest Islamic civic groups, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, to take opinion on the spread of extremist values. At Goh's urging, the Muhammadiyah leader said they would hold a dialogue with radical groups to discuss counter-terrorism. By such incremental steps would, hopefully, the spread of harmful ideologies be slowed, if not halted altogether. Make no mistake - success is not at all assured.

But the effort must be made. Goh also met Vice President Hamzah Haz, fairly or unfairly labeled an obstacle in counter- radicalism, and the two parliamentary heads, Amien Rais and Akbar Tandjung. The Indonesian milieu is enormously complex, and these individuals represent a diverse range of constituencies and interests. Amien, for instance, took issue with Goh on an extradition treaty (to catch Indonesian economic criminals said to be sheltering in Singapore) and Singapore's purchase of sand from Riau. Goh would have found these sessions edifying.

Secondly, Indonesia received a timely hand-up in the investment sphere. Goh's message was reassuring. Singapore Airlines' overbooked Bali budget packages were intended to signal to the faint-hearted that one bomb blast has not turned a gentle island into a hellhole. Singapore Technologies Telemedia buying into the state-owned PT Indosat telecom company showed measured confidence.

But Singapore can only do so much. Indonesia has been losing some star investors. Sony pulled out last month, citing security and labor problems. Avon, the American cosmetics fixture, may close its Jakarta factory. Johnson & Johnson and Gilette departed recently. Some 130 South Korean manufacturers have left and about 20 foreign firms have abandoned plans to invest in Jakarta's free-trade zone in Marunda.

Security is not the only handicap cited, as corruption and an increase in the minimum wage are also factors. But it is self- evident what the primary causative factor is, post-Bali. In the end, it is still Indonesia's call to make.