September 14, 2011
www.thestar.com.my
A New World Order emerging: Indonesia as well as Turkey, Malaysia?
CERITALAH By Karim Raslan
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
09-13-11
Indonesia as well as Turkey dual good countries upon a distant reaches of a Islamic universe have been benefiting from a leisure their people enjoy, boosting their general reputations.
WE HAVE seen how a Sep eleven attacks as well as Washingtons subsequent missteps have led to a diminution of American energy as well as change only as China was beginning a dramatic rise. Ten years on, a US is weighed down by debt as well as a failed dreams of global dominance.
Changes have additionally been taking place inside of a Muslim world. Indeed, in a issue of Sep 11, as well a some-more new Arab Spring, a change of energy in as well as in between these countries has shifted fundamentally.
In a past, Arab nations were deliberate pre-eminent. The revolutions in Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain as well as Libya have cracked a prestige of a Middle Easts strict rulers. The image of former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak upon hearing has transfixed a world.
We right away find ourselves asking a unthinkable which Arab republic or dominion will be next? Which redoubt of injustice, crime as well as mismanagement will tumble during a hands of a people?As a Arab universe propelled by dramatic developments upon a Internet, communications as well as social media enters a duration of turmoil as well as transition, other Muslim countries have been emerging from a margins of history.
Most notable have been Indonesia a! s well a s Turkey, dual good countries upon a distant reaches of a Islamic w! orld. As fully-functioning democracies, conjunction need fear a repeat of a Arab Spring inside of their borders.
Indeed, their economies have been benefiting from a leisure their people enjoy. This is boosting their general reputations while anti-reform Arab leaders crop up morally bankrupt.
Indonesia has traditionally paid in instalments to Saudi Arabia, a hearth of Islam, whose King is additionally a Custodian of a Two Holy Mosques. The attribute is additionally economic: a little 1.5 million Indonesians work in Saudi Arabia as maids as well as building a whole workers. Indonesia is additionally a big importer of Saudi oil as well as gas.
Still, controversies over a exploitation as well as abuse of Indonesian migrant workers in a dominion have soured their relationship.The NGO Migrant Care reports which a little 1,105 Indonesian workers died in Saudi Arabia from 2006 compartment final year. Under Saudi law, however, theres little chance for depressed foreigners to seek redress.
Indonesian annoy was serve stoked by a execution of Ruyati Sapubi, a 54-year-old West Javanese maid. She was convicted of murdering her Saudi employer, who she claimed was abusing her.
The mounting Indonesian annoy culminated in protests in Aug by local activists as well as academics when a University of Indonesia conferred an honorary doctorate upon Saudi Arabias King Abdullah.
The protesters complained which a award was inappropriate, given new events as well as Saudi Arabias poor tellurian rights record.As Anis Hidayah, executive director of Migrant Care wrote in Kompas:
The conferral of an honorary doctorate upon Abdullah is an insult to a nation, especially to a Indonesian migrant workers who have contributed to a country with their persperate as well as blood, mostly in a face of death.
Indeed, they have been some-more dignified as well as important than academics who have willingl! y sold o ut their integrity.
Indonesia has to illustrate dangling all migrant labour to Saudi Arabia until it signs an agreement upon workman protection. The republics flourishing pros! perity m eans which these shows of independence, as well as a integrity to protect a citizens, will increase.
Meanwhile, upon a distant western side of a Islamic world, Turkey is positioning itself as a regional power. Blocked in a attempts to join a European Union, Turkey has turned eastwards with good effect.
With a sepulchral manage to buy as well as dynamic society, Turkey is poised to seize a prominent purpose in Middle Eastern affairs especially in a issue of a Arab Spring.
Ankara, for example, has demanded an apology as well as remuneration from Israel for final years raid upon a Gaza flotilla. With conjunction forthcoming, Turkey has frozen ties with a Israeli troops as well as diminished Tel Avivs ambassador.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has additionally maintained an eccentric stance upon both Libya as well as Syria. He insisted upon joining Natos Libyan involvement though demanded special terms predominantly which a enforcement of a no-fly zone be led by a alliance itself as well as not France.
The Turks have been charting their own diplomatic course. They have been no longer content to remain mere allies of a West, or a silent, acquiescent Middle Eastern neighbour.
Indeed, Indonesia as well as Turkey have been bidding for leadership, not only of their particular regions though additionally of a Muslim universe during large. As members of a G-20 Summit, they denote how democratisation as well as liberalisation can strengthen nations.
Malaysia, for a part, is right away during a crossroads. Can you embark upon a some-more difficult, though in conclusion distant some-more rewarding, trail of reform? Whatever you choose, democracy even in a Muslim universe is upon a move everywhere. We must ask ourselves: have been you ! to turn a victims of story or a victors?
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