Indonesia as a model for others

Obama's visit to Indonesia created much publicity in Australia, especially his praises of the country as a model for diversity. Obama cannot help himself; like George W Bush, he expects others to view the world through the same eye glasses as the Americans.

The fact is, which may not be obvious to him, most Asians are unlikely to view Indonesia as a model for emulation. After all, its long history of institutionalised discrimination against its own ethnic Chinese had only recently been lifted, and it is unable to shake the entrenched corruption in its society.

Such an open endorsement by the US President will only reinforce the suspicion by many that his visit is only for winning support through their fear of China, and has little to do with principles.

Strange bedfellows

The proposal for SGX to takeover ASX has brought out howls of protests, perhaps unsurprisingly. It was strange though that Bob Brown and Bob Katter found themselves singing the same tune when they would normally preach from different ends of the political spectrum.

Singapore has been loudly derided, accused of various crimes of human rights abuse and dictatorial policies. The danger of this form of political purity is that it leaves no room for any deviation from the ideal state to cope with economic or social imperfections. The population may indeed come to the conclusion, should they feel the pure democracy had failed them, that the only alternative was a dictatorial ruler.

The Germans came to that conclusion in 1933.

Not good enough for Macquarie

It was unfortunate that Macquarie University recently approached us for donation. Their misfortune, that is, for it gave me an opportunity to give them a piece of my mind.

Late last year Yvonne applied for a postgraduate course in Applied Finance. She innocently said, during an entrance interview, that she wanted to be able to manage Finance, hers and ours for a start. The interviewer told her that the University was more interested in training people who manage "billions for companies like BHP". She was told she was not good enough.

Yvonne went on to attend the course another university, a more modest one, but she was good enough to score High Distinctions and Distinctions.

I explained to the caller in no uncertain terms how unhappy we are with Macquarie University. We were certainly not contributing. They should approach their good pals, like BHP, for funds and not ordinary folks like us. Hope she will pass that on.

Hu's who?

When Rio's Stern Hu was first arrested, a chorus of protests came through the media many immediately and openly accusing China of using trumped up charges in retaliation for the Chinalco fiasco. More responsible reporters were cautious but still alluding to the accusation.

Hu was widely painted as impeccable when in reality few knew what the charges were.

Eggs rained on many of them when Hu admitted to bribery charges during the trial.

It does not take an expert to understand that if one wants to bypass the rules in China, then one should not rock the boat as well. Rio, and their executives, thought they could do both.

Singaporeans shun work

There is an ongoing discussion in the Straits Times about foreign workers taking jobs from Singaporeans. The standard response from the authorities has always been that foreign workers are used for jobs shunned by Singaporeans.

The latest article by Jeremy Au Yong "They're doing jobs Singaporeans shun" again took the official line claimed that Singaoreans reject $1,300 jobs which foreign workers are willing to do for $800. (Straits Times 18 Jan 2010 http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_478655.html?sunwMethod=GET)

Au Yong seemed to have gone along with the authorities in ignoring the fact that Singaporeans cannot live on $1,300 while foreign workers can return to their country and live well on $800.

It seems that Singapore has to lower the standard of living if not the costs.