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6/27/2013
Yudhoyono has to defend his apology to Singapore and Malaysia
President Yudhoyono must have come under heavy attacks from the Indonesian leaders for apologizing to Singapore and Malaysia. What does this mean? The true feeling among the Indonesia leaders is not about right and wrong but about national pride, about being a big power. And it is demeaning for a big power like Indonesia to say sorry to smaller countries. This is the thinking and mentality of many of the Indonesian leaders. Lesson Number One, there are not bothered by being right or wrong.
Indonesia is the acknowledge leader and biggest regional power in the region. There is no reason for Indonesia to fear Singapore or Malaysia. Apologising to these two countries is just the correct thing to do and has nothing to do with bowing to pressure. No country in the region can put pressure on Indonesia, not even the Australians. For those Indonesian leaders to think so is a sign of inferiority complex, that they still did not know that they are the acknowledged regional power and leader. What a joke.
And it takes a greater man like Yudhoyono to say sorry to Singapore and Malaysia as a goodwill gesture. It makes him and Indonesia looked even bigger and more respectable. The criticisms by the other Indonesian leaders in a way have destroyed the goodwill Yudhoyono has done. It reveals the real deep psychic of the Indonesians and something that Singapore and Malaysia have to take note and be very careful about. This is Lesson Number Two.
The sad part is that Yudhoyono is now trying to say things to please his critics and claimed that the Singapore and Malaysian media reports were exaggerating to smear Indonesia’s reputation. Such back tracking will only bring him to be in line with the hysterics of his Indonesian critics. He could ask his ambassadors in the two countries to take a reading or walk in the haze and give him a ground zero report on the situation, first hand reporting, no exaggeration, not from the media, just the truth. Or use their mobile phones to take a picture and MMS to him.
This is Lesson Number Three. No need to know the truth.
Yes, sad indeed. That his ministers think that the President has made Indonesia lose face by apologizing. In fact, quite the contrary. The President's apology has earned the respects of Singaporeans and Malaysians.
ReplyDeletethis president is really dumb because he didn't read
ReplyDeletehttp://mollymeek.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/confessions-of-a-prime-minister/
why didn't the president learn from our white that the art of apology is really NO apology ?
If he has said the following, not only he is not only save his own face from wrong, he could be been wronged by others instead.
"[I]f we didn’t quite get it right, I’m sorry, but we will try and do better the next time."
"So we lacked that 20/20 foresight. Next time, we will try to do better. "
If the president use the same word as the White, he cannot be accused of not apologising, and yet he is not really apologising. Best of both world.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I meant when I said that the Indonesian President has to appease every segment of the vast disparate country before any action is taken to address a national issue.
ReplyDeleteGoverning Indonesia and for that matter China isn't the same as governing Singapore. It is akin to running a drug rehabilitation centre as opposed to a nursery school.
Ho ho.
not drc, WB. more like prison. 4000 hardcore criminals, minimal facilities, and prison built for 400. & not enough wardens. overcrowded any time can riot. running s'pore is like running a nursery, just 20 toddlers, all well-behaved and easily cowed.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteComforting words of apology that the president can use to appease singapore leaders
a) what to do, it happens
b) no amount of engineering can prevent the haze
c) once-a-50-years event
"ponding not flooding"
ReplyDeleteso can use "cloud not haze" to excuse the situation ?
Why take politicians' apologies, or no apologies, so seriously?
ReplyDeleteIt's their action and outcome that really matters, tio bo?
But if I were a politician, I may apologise during election time to get some votes lah.
But for the haze and no action, apologise also like that. Don''t apologise and even scold you for being like a child some more. also like that, tio bo?
Must have money to stay in air con room or house and no need to work outside during haze, or go for holiday abroad, that's what really matters, tio bo?
ReplyDeleteNo need to wait for politicians actions, because even if there are, most likely useless also.
Actually what can Sinkieland do even if Indonesia bochap (don't care)?
ReplyDeleteDon't trade with them, don't want their maids, don't allow their rich to park their money here, etc etc? Can or not, you tell me lah.
Can or not, you tell me lah.
ReplyDeleteAnon June 27, 2013 12:16 pm
If I were PAP govt, of course cannot lah.
But I must also be seen to be doing something mah. Or else how to answer to the 60% who voted PAP into power, tio bo?
What did I tell you?
ReplyDeleteIndonesia. Asia's premier asshole.
Its the bloody plantations that is causing this serious haze. Take away these plantations, and we have no problem. Farmers in Indonesia had been burning part of forest for argriculture for hundreds of years. None of us have to wear mask here in Singapore. Take action against big and greedy coporations that disregard our safety. Boycott their products!
ReplyDeleteIt is unusual for a president of such a big country to apologize. They must be up to something such as creating an unrest and used that as an excuse for invading msg? If not for the white men, msg will still belongs to indon territory.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I say never take one's kindness as his weakness.Those Goo Kia Erm Part Hor,daft Sinkie,cow son dun know tiger still want to protest against them.
ReplyDeleteSinkies should learn to appreciate his good gesture instead.
President Yudhoyono is the best.
Saya Cinta President Yudhoyono.
At least President SBY appears sincere in his speech.
ReplyDeleteunlike some country here apologise for war massacre there bow to the murderers who committed the war crime yet Spore govt still like them very much woh!
Matilah's rear aperture is a wind tunnel. A frequent self-fister.
ReplyDelete@1012:
ReplyDeleteWOW! Self fister! You've been watching too many internet videos.
Better get outdoors more. The air is clearing.
/// President Yudhoyono must have come under heavy attacks from the Indonesian leaders for apologizing to Singapore and Malaysia. What does this mean? ///
ReplyDeleteIt means that there is a power struggle withing the leadership. And those guys on the take for allowing the burning are not happy that the gravy train is going to be disrupted.