Sony's exit a national case

Sony's exit a national case

I was surprised to read Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti's comments on the Sony Corporation's
plan to leave Indonesia in the Nov. 29 edition of Kompas.

"Don't blow up one case to make it look like it's a national
one," he was quoted as saying.

As a common citizen, I would like to tell him that it is a
national case.

The plan to shut down Sony's audio equipment plant in Bekasi,
West Java, is part of its global business network. But for us
Indonesians, the decision has the same effect of a snowball
rolling down a hill.

Dorodjatun, as well as Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS
Soewandi, who said that we could do nothing about it, may have
forgotten the fact that Sony is not the first foreign investor to
flee. This reflects poorly on the investment climate of this
country.

Doesn't Dorodjatun see that the loss of foreign investments
will contribute to an increase in the country's unemployment?
Isn't unemployment a national problem? Doesn't he realize that
each Sony employee being laid off has dependents or families? He
must be aware that unemployment leads to crime. Never belittle
any problem, sir!

When the Thai baht fell in 1997, all Indonesian officials,
especially economic ministers, stated in the media that "our
rupiah is all right. Our monetary fundamentals are strong. There
is nothing to worry about." Then the rupiah started dropping
against the U.S. dollar and the national disaster began. This
country's economy has yet to recover, while Thailand has regained
its economy.

So Dorodjatun and Rini, please be careful when making public
statements. If you could do nothing about this incident then what
can you do as ministers? Why didn't you take preventive steps
before Sony decided to leave this country? Please be honest with
the fact that the country still has a myriad of problems, many of
which have discouraged foreign investors here.

MAHISA RESPATI, Tangerang, Banten