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