Realism and idealism in diplomacy with Malaysia, S'pore
Realism and idealism in diplomacy with Malaysia, S'pore
Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
Jakarta
Like any good neighbor, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
visited Indonesia's closest neighbors, Malaysia and Singapore. It
is part of a time honored tradition amongst senior officials of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
countries to make introductory visits upon assuming office.
That the two countries should be the first to be visited by
the President is logical given their proximity and strategic
significance as ASEAN founding members (along with the
Philippines and Thailand).
In a bid to add significance to the state visit, emphasis has,
unfortunately, been placed on pragmatic issues such as the
problem of migrant workers in Malaysia, and the conclusion of a
much sought extradition treaty with Singapore.
While these issues are of importance to Indonesia's national
interests, its emphasis over the past week threatened to gravely
jeopardize the overall standing of Jakarta's relationship with
its two neighbors. The visage of these two issues suddenly seemed
bigger then the sum of the overall bilateral relationships.
Indonesia's relationship with these two countries comprises a
network of complicated themes. The issue of migrant workers and
the extradition treaty is just one subordinate aspect of what is
historically a strong relationship.
Once again Indonesians have showed their inherent knack of
blaming others for a problem rooted in its own incompetence.
The problem of migrant workers in Malaysia, for example, stems
from Indonesia's own inability to properly manage the export of
workers. The number of illegals in Malaysia results from the poor
control of Indonesian borders. The fact that this issue comes up
more often in the year than the durian season is a sign that
Jakarta has not taken comprehensive measures to resolve it.
Yes, there are errant Malaysian employers who exploit migrant
workers, but are they the norm or just isolated cases?
It is not surprising that an Malaysian daily in an editorial
expressed its shock at Jakarta's "erratic and illogical" behavior
in seemingly blaming Malaysian employers in the latest migrant
worker "crisis".
The same goes for the extradition treaty with Singapore, as if
the lack of one was the cause of rampant upscale corruption in
Indonesia. Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo was absolutely
correct when he remarked that it was an "unrealistic
misimpression" that an extradition treaty would solve the problem
of corruption.
Susilo and his Malaysian and Singapore counterparts might have
been all smiles during official photo-ops the last few days, but
the decorum belies the increasingly niggling uneasiness among
domestic constituents in the three countries.
Having been democratically elected, Susilo is under immense
pressure to deliver. For politicians, the operative word for
deliver is not necessarily to make good on promises but garner
public sympathy.
Domestic politics measures itself in shorter time frames and
popularity ratings. Applying the same gauge in bilateral ties can
have tragic consequences.
In most cases, there needs to be a balance between realism and
idealism. Too much of the former leads to inertia in the
relationship, while a glut of the latter produces chauvinism.
It is said that foreign policy is a reflection of domestic
policy, but sometimes it is important for leaders to defy their
own domestic constituents to ameliorate unnecessary friction.
Bilateral issues will continue to emerge. That is the nature
of being neighbors. And it is good that all sides are able to
openly express their differing views.
However, given the openness increasingly pervading in the
region, it is important to buffer diplomacy from falling prey to
the whims of xenophobic agendas. It is hoped that Indonesia's
chief diplomats will continue to preserve the bilateral
relationship through a series of incremental steps that maintain
a fine balance between realism and interests.