theSun | MONDAY MAY 11 2009
speak up!
THE OBJECTIVES
TO achieve greater unity
among Malaysians
Indonesia takes
the lead
THOSE accustomed to regarding
Indonesia as a country lagging far
behind Malaysia on almost every
score should think again. Recent
developments, particularly in this
country, suggest in two major areas
– economic and political – Indonesia
is way ahead of Malaysia.
In its Regional Economic Outlook
published last week, the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts
among the Asean Five countries,
Indonesia is likely to be the star per-
former this year and next year. Apart
from Indonesia, Asean Five countries
include Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand.
Indonesia’s economy is expected
to grow by 2.5% this year and by a
slightly stronger 3.5% next year. It is
the only country among the Asean
Five expected to expand for two suc-
cessive years, IMF projections show.
In contrast, Malaysia’s economic
prospects are the second poorest
among the Asean Five. The Malay-
sian economy could tumble by -3.5%
this year but rebound by 1.3% next
year. IMF projections for this year dif-
fer markedly from the government’s
recent forecast.
Singapore is the worst performer
and the only East Asian economy
likely to remain in negative territory
for two years – contracting by a mas-
sive 10% this year and by a negligible
0.1% next year.
As for the other two Asean Five
countries this year, Thailand’s econ-
omy will shrink by -3% while the
Filipino economy will be stagnant.
Next year, both will expand by 1%,
the IMF forecasts.
According to the IMF, East Asian
countries hardest hit by the global
financial crisis are very open econo-
mies that specialise in manufactur-
ing.
One indicator of openness is the
ratio of exports to GDP. Among the
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Is it too late for Sg Selangor fireflies?
THE Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
is concerned about the indiscriminate
clearing of firefly habitats in Kuala Se-
langor, which were recommended for
protection to the state government in its
report, Strategies for Conservation and
Tourism Development at Sungai Selangor
Riparian Forest, 1997. These areas were
recommended for protection again in
the MNS report Fireflies Studies in Kuala
Selangor District, 2002.
The recommendation of the main
core fireflies area was included in Ran-
cangan Pembangunan Tempatan Kuala
Selangor 2005-2015 to be gazetted as a
firefly sanctuary. The Sultan of Selangor
further sent a conservation message in
2005 and 2006, but no proactive effort
has been taken to support the call and
the sanctuary has yet to be gazetted.
The precautionary approach is a
more rational and cheaper solution, ie do
nothing to this area if we do not have the
data and understanding of our activities
towards the area. However, with the land
now cleared, it has now caused more
complex problems of site rehabilitation,
revoking or acquiring land from private
owners, and has further negatively af-
fected the firefly tourism industry.
RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES
BELIEF
IN GOD
TO maintain a TO create a just society in
democratic way of life which the wealth of the nation
shall be equitably shared
Asean Five,
Singapore’s
export ratio
of 185% is
the highest,
Malaysia’s
94.3% is MakingSens
second and by Tan Siok Choo
Indonesia’s
26.4% the
lowest. Comparable figures for Thai-
land and the Philippines are 60% and
34.9% respectively.
Indonesia’s economic advantage
over Malaysia could extend beyond
next year. In its January issue, The
Economist magazine says Asia’s
export-led growth has reached its
limits. To power future growth, Asia
must rely on domestic demand, espe-
cially consumption, it suggests.
Consumption-driven growth
is particularly advantageous for
Indonesia. Its sizeable population of
240 million offers domestic manu-
facturers a tremendous market and
massive economies of scale.
One promising area for Indo-
nesia’s consumption-led growth is
health care. Research and consulting
firm, Frost and Sullivan, notes rich
Indonesians spend far more than
US$1 billion (RM3.5 billion) annually
on health care overseas. This figure
underscores the potential gain to
Indonesia if the quality of domestic
health care improves.
Politically, Malaysia has much
to learn from its Muslim neighbour.
First, leaders at district and provin-
cial level in Indonesia are elected by
voters. For this reason, Indonesian
leaders are far more responsive to
the needs of their constituents while
the threat of being voted out of office
has improved significantly the qual-
ity of life in some municipalities.
Bringing back elections in towns
in this country is something the rul-
ing Barisan Nasional (BN) would do
MNS commends Elizabeth Wong Keat
Ping, chairwoman of the Selangor tour-
ism, consumer affairs and environment
committee, and the state for undertaking
actions to rehabilitate the cleared land. It
recommends the following:
» Protect the remaining firefly habitats.
These will allow for future repopulation
of the damaged area.
» Protect the river buffer zones and
the river loops of riparian forest. This
is important on a landscape level and
biological level, both necessary for the
continued survival of this species, which
is inherently linked to the tourism indus-
try in this area. Protecting the remnants
of the riparian forest in the loops of the
rivers (cleared and uncleared areas) will
ensure the survival of the fireflies.
» Prevent the ground from drying up.
It should be covered by ground cover
plants while awaiting the mangrove
seedlings.
» Conduct intense firefly research work
on this particular species (Pteroptyx
tener) with the aim of repopulating the
cleared areas. The display trees, the
firefly breeding areas and the food for
the larvae must all be looked into.
» Increase the awareness of the local
LOYALTY TO KING THE SUPREMACY
AND COUNTRY OF THE
CONSTITUTION
TO ensure a liberal approach
to her rich and diverse
cultural traditions
well to implement immediately.
Second, Indonesians enjoy far
greater freedom than Malaysians.
Recently, some Indonesian activists
publicly urged voters not to support
Prabowo Subianto and Wiranto as
candidates for the July presidential
election because of allegations of past
human rights abuses.
Even though Prabowo was the
former commander of special forces
and Wiranto an ex-military chief,
these activists weren’t charged with
illegal assembly nor were they
jailed.
In contrast, Wong Chin Huat, an
activist for Bersih, a group advocat-
ing cleaner elections, was arrested
under the Sedition Act last week
for calling on Malaysians to wear
black to mourn the death of democ-
racy in Perak and for preaching
civil disobedience. He was detained
together with five lawyers who tried
to provide legal assistance to several
supporters who were also arrested.
All detainees, including Wong and
the five lawyers, were released last
Friday.
Third, unlike their Malaysian
counterparts, Indonesian legislators
appear to enjoy a far higher level of
civility. Last Friday, Malaysian news-
papers featured on their front pages
the unedifying photo of a Speaker
being manhandled and forcibly
removed from the Perak Legislative
Assembly. Although voted out of
office by BN state assemblymen, the
Speaker refused to vacate his seat.
Additionally, Indonesia’s political
outlook could improve markedly.
Last month’s Parliamentary elections
in Indonesia saw President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic
Party winning 148 seats, the highest
number among political parties. The
Democratic Party’s victory makes
Susilo the front runner in July’s
presidential election.
In short, Indonesia’s potent com-
bination of political stability, strong
adherence to democratic freedoms
and attractive economic prospects
is likely to be strongly endorsed by
its citizens, business community and
foreign investors. If only the same
could be said of Malaysia.
Opinions expressed in this article are
the personal views of the writer and
should not be attributed to any organi-
sation she is connected with. Her email
address is schoo@noordinsopiee.com.
communities and landowners. This is
needed especially on the importance
of the firefly habitats. A dedicated local
group should be formed to take the lead
role in reaching out to all local stakehold-
ers and to monitor the firefly sanctuary
and be part of the rehabilitation activi-
ties.
Having been associated with the
Kuala Selangor area and its fireflies since
the 1970s, MNS is ready to help re-estab-
lish the integrity of this important area
industry.
Malaysia will be hosting the second
International Firefly Symposium in 2010,
and its participants are looking forward
to visiting this important site. At the
least, for now, it should be a showcase
for firefly habitat rehabilitation work,
rather than allowing such indiscriminate
acts to continue, and allowing our critical
natural assets to be jeopardised in terms
of eco-tourism, heritage and biodiversity
potentials.
Please protect our Sg Selangor fire-
flies and its habitat.
Dr Loh Chi Leong
Executive Director
Malaysian Nature Society
THE RULE COURTESY AND
OF LAW MORALITY
TO build a progressive society
which shall be oriented to modern
science and technology
Is France big enough
for Sarkozy?
by Eric S. Margolis
A PERFECT spring has come to
Paris, the City of Light. Birds chirp,
flowers bloom, a warm sun bathes
this most beautiful of cities.
The old German saying, “As
happy as God in France,” still holds
true. The Teutons will begin arriving
shortly.
Meanwhile, France’s notoriously
ill-tempered voters are in a cranky
mood. Recent polls show that Presi-
dent Nicholas Sarkozy’s popularity
continues to fall. Two years after
he took office, over half of voters
disapprove of Sarkozy’s record in
tackling France’s economic and
social problems, though they still
admire his energy, decisiveness,
and courage.
Actually, that’s not bad. France
has withstood the worst of the
financial crisis thanks to its avoid-
ance of the debt orgy that sank the
US and Britain. France’s generous
social programmes, long derided by
US conservatives, prevented much
of the misery American workers
are suffering. In good times, these
programmes and restrictions on
firing were a drag on the economy.
But when that big rainy day hit, they
worked.
Many of Sarkozy’s ambitious
plans to modernise France’s econ-
omy, cut taxes, curb union power,
and reduce the bloated state sector
have not succeeded. The hyperac-
tive president’s reforms of France’s
creaky judicial and educational sys-
tem have been more successful.
French want reform but don’t
want to change anything or sacri-
fice any of their cushy lifestyles. We
are having two long weekends to
warm up for the sacred four-to-six-
week national summer vacation.
The president’s hyperactiv-
ity continues without pause as
he ricochets from one new cause
to another. Sarko’s critics say he
confuses movement and talk with
achievements. His intense nervous
energy makes many French uneasy.
France likes its presidents detached
and regal, like Charles DeGaulle or
Francois Mitterand.
Sarkozy has lots of what North
Africans call “good baraka”. He es-
caped arousing traditional French
anti-Semitism. His initial gauche
behaviour and public personal
dramas were sternly curbed by his
new wife, the exquisite Carla Bruni,
Losing sleep over urban
swiftlet farms
I HAVE lost count of the number
of complaints (in Muar and other
towns) about the proliferation of
swiftlet motels that have made their
presence, mostly unwelcome, felt in
many towns, now to such an extent
that they are difficult to dislodge.
There is even a case in Kuala
Terengganu where a coffeeshop
owner brought legal action against
the swiftlet farmers to no avail.
We respect the enterprising
spirit of these farmers but take is-
sue with the unscrupulous manner
they bulldoze through their money-
making schemes regardless of the
potential health hazard and physical
discomfort (bird droppings and the
stench, recordings of bird calls 24
hours a day) to the residents who
are unfortunate enough to live near
these swiftlet motels.
As the number of swiftlet motels
multiply, so will the number of dis-
13
who is Sarko’s most important as-
set. La Belle Carla remains hugely
popular in spite of media hysteria
over her zesty past.
The Socialist opposition has
collapsed into bickering and a cat
fight between militant leftist leader,
Martine Aubry, who reminds every-
one of a school matron they hated,
and former presidential candidate,
Segolene Royal. Though smart,
many see her as a lightweight.
France’s once mighty left has gone
from being a national menace to a
national joke.
The far right National Front
of Jean Marie LePen has almost
evaporated. Sarkozy and his cen-
tre-right UDF party sucked up most
of its votes. Other smaller parties
are inconsequential.
So, for France, “l’etat” remains
Monsieur le President Sarkozy.
Luckily for him, he also has a brainy,
capable, but self-effacing prime
minister, Francois Fillon, who picks
up the pieces of broken crockery
left behind by the rampaging
Sarko.
That’s fine with Sarkozy, who far
more enjoys statesmanship than
dealing with France’s curse, rioting
fishermen, thuggish lorry drivers
and hostile transport unions, all of
whom can paralyse France within
hours.
Sarkozy did a commendable
job as president of the European
Union, and continues to be the EU’s
primary force and voice. Middle
East peace, relations with Russia,
the Caucasus, gas, oil, trade, mak-
ing nice with Obama, Nato, TV ads,
nothing escapes his attention.
Now, Sarko is turning his
volcanic energies to the pharonic
project of transforming Paris from a
city of two million into a metropolis
of 12 million with new transport
lines, roads, water transport, and
monumental new edifices. This will
be Paris’ biggest renovation in 150
years. Wits in Paris say it will be
rechristened “Sarkoville”.
At times, France seems too
small for Sarkozy, a man many
French call “the American”.
Eric S. Margolis is a contributing
editor to the Toronto Sun chain of
newspapers, writing mainly about
the Middle East and South Asia.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.
com
gruntled citizens. Despite numerous
complaints to the relevant authori-
ties, the growth of these swiftlet
motels seems unstoppable.
Is it for want of regulations that
the authorities find it hard to rein in
this industry? Is the industry sub-
jected to licensing regulations man-
datory for all business activities? Or
do the businessmen involved resort
to political connections and lobbying
to tie the authorities’ hands?
If the authorities are serious,
they should go to the ground and
engage the populace and they will
find that the common stand is for
moving these swiftlet motels out of
town limits.
Sooner than later, this will
become another hot issue during
election time.
Tam Yong Yuee
Muar