RI shuold coordinate regional counter-terror effort

RI shuold coordinate regional counter-terror effort

Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said recently the
leader behind the aggressive Jemaah Islamiah was lurking
somewhere in Indonesia, causing a stir in the vast archipelago.
Over the days, some Indonesian politicians, Islamic organizations
and media have lashed out at Lee and the Singapore government.

Basically, Lee's remarks were not directed at the Indonesian
government, nor its people, but simply to illustrate the threat
faced by regional countries using an existing phenomenon. As a
result, they did not infringe upon the diplomatic principles of
mutual respect among sovereign states. Instead, the relevant
personnel, organisations and mass media in Indonesia have accused
him of having hurt the country's feelings.

The issue also shows that despite having established a
democratic mechanism, Indonesia still lacks a matured population
worthy of a democratic society. Many Indonesian parties and their
leaders resort to sensitive issues for their personal interests,
often at the expense of the well-being of the nation and the
people.

To break away from its current doldrums, Indonesia has to
start right from its very heart. Everyone should put the state
above all else and abandon malicious struggles among the many
factions.

Terrorism is a cross-border issue. Neither Malaysia nor
Singapore has the ability to diffuse the threat on their own
without the help from Indonesia. Indonesia must not overlook the
fact that terrorism can one day erode the nation.

Even if Lee's remarks have been unpleasant, at least they
should not be given a deaf ear.

-- Sin Chew Jit Poh, Selangor, Malaysia