Three countries in ASEAN are celebrating their Independence this month: Singapore on 9th, Indonesia on 17th and Malaysia on 31st. I wonder what their leaders and their people will ask themselves on their Independence days?
By far, Singapore seems to be the one doing best, considering their stable political situation and a booming economy. The government seems to be more open and intent on making Singapore a "truly" global city rich in culture and the arts as well as entertainment and nightlife. But culture and arts aren't attributes one can cultivate over a few years, nor even a decade. Wonder whether the next generation of leaders in their government will have the same resolve as the current in this aspect.
Malaysia? Well the quarreling between the ex and current prime ministers seems to have subsided somewhat. But they have deep racial issues which have to be resolved if they want to catch up with the rest of the world. Or perhaps they don't? Seems like the Malaysian government and some of the deprived people of the Malay race (never forget this forms their electorate) are content with what Malaysia is now and where they stand in the world.
Indonesia is the BIG brother of ASEAN. Having gone through their share of instability and political woes, they've yet to admit officially that terrorism is rampant in their country and that they harbor some of the most radical "brain washers" of terrorism. And the quarreling and jostling for power (for obvious reasons to get enrichment through corruption) within the weak coalition government continue unabated.
So, should they feel that they're better off having their own flags rather than those of their colonizers?
Definitely I would say. Better to have their own people governing them than someone sitting in their cushy offices in some European capital city dictating their faiths. But gaining independence is one thing, administering it is another. There's really no quick fix for any one country as problems are unique to each. But the tendency for some of these people to reject what is happening in affluent civilizations in the West on the pretext that their people are different certainly won't help.
Life is a learning process. So is civilization. But why would people not want to learn from the mistakes that other countries went through and tailor fit those solutions to the characteristics of their own people and country? Perhaps they think they're doing that already, I'm sure. But one can do that over a century or one can short-circuit that to the minimum time possible. To me, it's a case of how tolerable is continuing poverty and literacy.
The poor and impoverished cannot afford to put themselves and their children through education, and hence are unable to tap into normal channels of independent news on affairs around the world. They are more narrow minded and become more and more so as their governments continually treat them like illiterates and feed them with information and propaganda meant for illiterates. When election time comes, the people running for government will have to take measures which appeal to this "illiterate" electorate and forget and forgo what the county really needs. It's really a vicious circle for the longer they take to lift them out of poverty and literacy, the longer it'll take them to steer their country out of the third world abyss.
To my friends in Malaysia, I would tell them to forget about how much more the Chinese and Indians are making compared to some of the poorer Malays for now; liberalize the economy and let businesses compete openly on a level playing field, attract as much foreign investments as possible before they all head to China and India; swallow their national pride for a moment and rope in a foreign strategic partner (or partners) for their loss making Proton car company, and possibly Malaysian airlines as well.
To friends in Indonesia, they should forget about wasting public resources on high profile "weak" legal cases such as those of the Suharto family which will surely be thrown out by the courts; instead, go for currently active corrupts who haven't had the chance to destroy incriminating records yet and move fast on them so as to set good examples to the rest. Get their unions to come to terms with the competitive labor market in Asia and spend more time on increasing productivity rather than holding demonstrations and protests in busy Jakarta streets. Get rid of business-unfriendly laws and regulations and bring as much foreign investments into Indonesia as possible, especially on much needed infrastructure projects. Forget about current woes and natural disasters. Don't ask what God has done to men, but what men has done to men!
To friends in Singapore who perhaps needs the least advice, I'd say start getting used to the fact that the world is hungry for information and people are going to write and talk about you -- so open up to unrestricted free speech. You won't achieve anything by suing every publication which comments negatively about one or two issues in your country. Don't scare away foreign investors by taking over-zealous measures, FOR the minute you decided to let in the billions of dollars for mega casino resorts, you should have known that property and other prices will rise in your land scarce country. Next year is the debut of the Formula-1 race there and the whole world will be watching. Do not make a fool of your country and yourselves.
Happy Independence Days friends...
Friday 20 July 2007
Sunday 1 July 2007
Hongkong - 10 years after
It's been 10 years since Hongkong returned to Chinese "communist" rule. From free wheeling capitalism under the British to a much more repressive regime.
Other than the outspoken activists, the Hongkong friends I've spoken to all feel that they've been "looked after" better than when they were under the British as a colony. Of course! China's economy is the hottest around the world now. The most populated country on this planet; and with plenty of money too. Once, one of my Hongkong friends said that if everyone in China jumps at the same time, the resonance will create an earthquake so huge it will even rock America. He could be right.
Whatever happens in China resonates around the world -- be it the stock markets, or the tainted food they export. Not forgetting what we went through with SARS a few years back. I really don't believe there hadn't been any "covers up" when the disease first broke in China. Poor Hongkong, and Canada which bore the brunt of the SARS outbreak. Economies in other parts of South East Asia were affected too, notably Singapore which had close social contacts with Hongkong and China. It was quite fortunate then that Indonesia wasn't affected "officially", for if they had been, it would have turned into a pandemic in no time considering the backwardness of the health care system there. They're not so lucky this time around with bird flu.
China won't and cannot afford to let Hongkong sink. With thoughts of reunification with Taiwan, that would have been the death knell and prone to international condemnation. And that would have served the Taiwanese well in seeking admission to the United Nations.
Without China, Hongkong's economy would not have recovered so quickly after the SARS crisis; similarly for the rest of Asia and the World. The Canadians have to be envious for Canadians are Canadians, NOT US citizens; whereas Hongkongers are Chinese, like their counterparts up north, fellow "descendants of the dragon". Canada can only count on their southern neighbors for spillover effect, whereas the Hongkongers can rely on boosters orchestrated by Beijing.
Reminds me a bit like the typhoon shelters they have in Hongkong. When the wind rises, stay behind the shelter. But China as an economic hinterland has served Hongkong better than the typhoon shelters in that typhoon shelters only provide shelter when the storm arrives, whereas China is in a position to do that plus providing indirect assistance when the storm has passed. How can Hongkong do without China? And why would Hongkongers not embrace this reunification with the mainland?
What about the Brits? They have their own problems in Europe. Anyhow, Hongkong was supposed to be a sort of cash, commodities and securities cow anyway, historically. Money and commodities out of Hongkong trade are meant for the benefit of the British Empire. And Hongkong's geographic location serves as an asset in Britain's quest to play a part in global security.
What can we learn from this relationship between Hongkong and China? Plenty! As long as we keep our minds open and forget all the norms experienced by the Western world and found in text books, for there has not been the equivalent of China and Hongkong in past history recorded by Western historians. It will also serve to remind smaller countries next to BIG hinterlands of the possibilities and varying degrees of assistance she can expect to tap from the bigger brother next to her. And these smaller countries must realize that they are not Hongkong in assessing their positions. Example: smaller countries like Luxembourg in Europe must understand that although they are European, they are not German or French.
Well I can only wish my Hongkongers and my friends there all the best in this newfound relationship. Democracy is great, but democracy must serve and look after its people. Too much talk of democracy without tangible benefits will leave too many poor people disgruntled and lead to unwanted instability.
Other than the outspoken activists, the Hongkong friends I've spoken to all feel that they've been "looked after" better than when they were under the British as a colony. Of course! China's economy is the hottest around the world now. The most populated country on this planet; and with plenty of money too. Once, one of my Hongkong friends said that if everyone in China jumps at the same time, the resonance will create an earthquake so huge it will even rock America. He could be right.
Whatever happens in China resonates around the world -- be it the stock markets, or the tainted food they export. Not forgetting what we went through with SARS a few years back. I really don't believe there hadn't been any "covers up" when the disease first broke in China. Poor Hongkong, and Canada which bore the brunt of the SARS outbreak. Economies in other parts of South East Asia were affected too, notably Singapore which had close social contacts with Hongkong and China. It was quite fortunate then that Indonesia wasn't affected "officially", for if they had been, it would have turned into a pandemic in no time considering the backwardness of the health care system there. They're not so lucky this time around with bird flu.
China won't and cannot afford to let Hongkong sink. With thoughts of reunification with Taiwan, that would have been the death knell and prone to international condemnation. And that would have served the Taiwanese well in seeking admission to the United Nations.
Without China, Hongkong's economy would not have recovered so quickly after the SARS crisis; similarly for the rest of Asia and the World. The Canadians have to be envious for Canadians are Canadians, NOT US citizens; whereas Hongkongers are Chinese, like their counterparts up north, fellow "descendants of the dragon". Canada can only count on their southern neighbors for spillover effect, whereas the Hongkongers can rely on boosters orchestrated by Beijing.
Reminds me a bit like the typhoon shelters they have in Hongkong. When the wind rises, stay behind the shelter. But China as an economic hinterland has served Hongkong better than the typhoon shelters in that typhoon shelters only provide shelter when the storm arrives, whereas China is in a position to do that plus providing indirect assistance when the storm has passed. How can Hongkong do without China? And why would Hongkongers not embrace this reunification with the mainland?
What about the Brits? They have their own problems in Europe. Anyhow, Hongkong was supposed to be a sort of cash, commodities and securities cow anyway, historically. Money and commodities out of Hongkong trade are meant for the benefit of the British Empire. And Hongkong's geographic location serves as an asset in Britain's quest to play a part in global security.
What can we learn from this relationship between Hongkong and China? Plenty! As long as we keep our minds open and forget all the norms experienced by the Western world and found in text books, for there has not been the equivalent of China and Hongkong in past history recorded by Western historians. It will also serve to remind smaller countries next to BIG hinterlands of the possibilities and varying degrees of assistance she can expect to tap from the bigger brother next to her. And these smaller countries must realize that they are not Hongkong in assessing their positions. Example: smaller countries like Luxembourg in Europe must understand that although they are European, they are not German or French.
Well I can only wish my Hongkongers and my friends there all the best in this newfound relationship. Democracy is great, but democracy must serve and look after its people. Too much talk of democracy without tangible benefits will leave too many poor people disgruntled and lead to unwanted instability.
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