6/25/2013
Decent men stood up from the haze
It is reported that the 1997 haze that lasted 3 months cost US$9 billion to the countries in the region. And the current haze is expected to cost more. Compare this with the little savings made by the plantation owners, it becomes quite silly. Saving a few millions just to wreak havoc around the region, affecting lives and social and economic well being of the people just do not make sense. With the kind of numbers, it tempts the affected countries to just throw the money at the plantation owners to avoid the woes if it is that easy. The thing that is holding them back is likely that the act is criminal, illegal and not to be committed, and there is a law against it. The Indonesian govt could put all the culprits behind bars.
And why are the Indonesian govt leaders defending the offenders that are causing so much harm and destruction to innocent people of other countries? Why are they making wild comments like it is wrong to condemn the act? Singapore was called childish. And both Malaysia and Singapore were accused of making unnecessary public outcries to attract international attention, to discredit Indonesia.
The thinking of these Indonesian leaders is that we owed them a living. We owe them the oxygen from their forest as if we don’t have our own forests. We owe them for their generosity to sell us gas and we must tolerate and accept the haze as part of the deal. Complaining is ungrateful. And there is nothing wrong with the burning and the haze hazard.
Fortunately this kind of tribal chief thinking is confined to a few leaders. The President of Indonesia has honourably accepted responsibility and acknowledged that the act is offensive, unfriendly and unacceptable. ‘For what has happened, as President, I say sorry and seek the understanding of our relatives in Singapore and Malaysia.’
In a crisis like this, the men separate themselves from the boys. The decent and honourable will act and behave honourably. The peasants or tribal chiefs will behave accordingly. There is a saying, ‘人讲人话，鬼讲鬼话。President Yudhoyono is an exceptional man, a rare find in the history of Indonesia. Indonesia is blessed to have him as their President.
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17 comments:
I wonder how much he was paid to say that.
Actually apologise or not, what difference does it make?
It's the action and outcome of it that counts, tio bo?
PM Lee also apologised to Sinkies just before GE 2011 what.
But has Sinkies lives been better than before?
It costs nothing to apologise.
But it may work wonders in the mindset of some Sinkies. For instance in an election, they may want to vote for the party whose leader apologised. So this is a wonderful outcome. It can even mean an incumbent can still remain in power after the election.
But for the haze, what outcome of an apology if no action, you tell me lah?
Nice piece from you about SBY's apology. Bravo ! But alas, it has so far attracted only such poisonous remarks from cynics, who never fail to take every opportunity to turn to their own dark feelings. Sad !
How about the man who watched the beautiful full blue moon? Did he not stand up for Singapore?
Incompetent men also stood up from the haze.
Incompetent and overpaid.
Aiyah, just follow the money trail and you will know who the culprits are.
nindonesian boy-leaders are puzzled why sinkies complain so much about the smoke because they thought sinkies already used to and quite immune to smoke as they always smell the smoke from burning joss-sticks, giant joss candles, joss paper and paper houses and paper gadgets at funerals.
Yudhoyono has always been a gentleman since he took office. He is very different from the others. A professional soldier, steady and cool, not prone to emotional and irrational outburst.
As for the haze immunity, ahem, it is quite different. Pig farmers can get use to the smell of pig farms, but there is no immunity against particles stuck in your lung. Trapping too much of them can cause the lung to dysfunction.
Unlike the little red dot, Indonesia is a vast country that transverse three time zones and it is very difficult to govern.
Everything said and done must be carefully evaluated and thought over so as not to alienate or antagonize the different segments of its population. If the haze was indeed started by small holder plantations or even Indonesian entities, too robust enforcement action may give the impression that the government is caving in to the demands of neighbouring countries and appearing wimpy.
This apology is already a significant step for the Indonesian leader to take. It sends a signal to those fire starters that enough is enough and at the end of the day, Indonesia must stand on the correct side of environmental issues and act accordingly.
We need to repeat our offer of help in putting out the fires with aircraft and SCDF personnel. If we can send our assets to the Gulf to join the "Coalition Of The Willing" and put on a great wayang, we can jolly well help our neighbour to put out the fires which are so close to home and endangering the lives of our young, old and the sick.
WB is a wise person. must be a man of the world.
Damage already done so damage control tactics. Same like PM apology in the last GE.
indonesian presidents never apologize. it was a clone that did it. pinky also did not apologize. it was a clone that did it too.
PM Lee did apologise after last GE, but 'boh sng siow' now.
As it is, every politician wanting to rise to power also promise the moon and the stars, but also 'boh sng siow' when they have power.
As someone said, it cost nothing to apologise.
I'll bet you that next year, around the same time -- forest fires and haze once again for Singapore and Malaysia.
Indonesia is primarily inhabited by a vast majority of assholes. The more powerful and rich they become, the greater the "coefficient of assholery". There is a belief so ingrained in the culture, the locals simply joke about it: if you want to become rich, no need to work hard; just be corrupt and formulate a scam which allows you to "win" at the expense of others.
Singapore should bring up the past -- konfrontasi - Indonesia's undeclared war with Malaysia and Singapore (Sokarno was pissed off that Malaysia annexed Sabah and Sarawak to her Federation):
1. Indonesian military planted a bomb at MacDonald House (aka Dhoby Gaut MRT)
2. 1 & 2 Singapore Infantry Regiment battling Indonesian paratroopers in Malaysia
Kani nah. They send their special forces to kill Singaporean civilians?
Fuck that shit lah. Bring up the past. Open the motherfucking old wounds. Become MORE HOSTILE.
If not, next year, same time, same reason: SAME HAZE.
@1258:
Yeah. You must know how to make lemonade from the lemons life hands you.
I grew up in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. As far as being an asshole goes, I've had excellent training ;-)
Concurs with Redbean that Indonesian President Yuhdoyono is a great statesman.
It is not fair to compare his apology for the haze with the Apology made by PM Lee Hsien Loong just before the Last GE.
Even in Statesmanship, there is no comparison. One is humble whilst another is full of air. The Chinese call it 'bu ke yi shi' meaning one with the Look of conceit.
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