September 14, 2011
www.thestar.com.my
A New World Order Emerging:Indonesia as well as Turkey, Wither Malaysia?
CERITALAH By Karim Raslan
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
09-13-11
Indonesia as well as Turkey two great 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 mitigation of American energy as well as change just as China was beginning a thespian rise. Ten years on, a US is weighed down by debt as well as a unsuccessful dreams of tellurian dominance.
Changes have additionally been taking place within a Muslim world. Indeed, in a issue of Sep 11, as well a some-more recent Arab Spring, a change of energy in as well as in between these countries has shifted fundamentally.
In a past, Arab nations were considered pre-eminent. The revolutions in Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain as well as Libya have cracked a prestige of a Middle Easts autocratic rulers. The image of former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak upon trial has transfixed a world.
We now find ourselves asking a unimaginable which Arab republic or kingdom will be next? Which redoubt of injustice, crime as well as mismanagement will tumble at a hands of a people?As a Arab universe propelled by thespian developments upon a Internet, communications as well as amicable media enters a period of misunderstanding as well as transition, alternative Muslim countries have been rising from a margins of history.
Most important have been I! ndonesia as well as Turkey, two great countries upon a distant reaches of a Islamic world.! As full y-functioning democracies, neither need fright a repeat of a Arab Spring within 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 appear morally bankrupt.
Indonesia has traditionally deferred 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 large importer of Saudi oil as well as gas.
Still, controversies over a exploitation as well as abuse of Indonesian migrant workers in a kingdom have soured their relationship.The NGO Migrant Care reports which a little 1,105 Indonesian workers died in Saudi Arabia from 2006 till last year. Under Saudi law, however, theres little chance for aggrieved 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 ascent Indonesian annoy culminated in protests in August by local activists as well as academics when a University of Indonesia conferred an titular doctorate upon Saudi Arabias King Abdullah.
The protesters complained which a endowment was inappropriate, given recent events as well as Saudi Arabias poor human rights record.As Anis Hidayah, executive director of Migrant Care wrote in Kompas:
The conferral of an titular doctorate upon Abdullah is an insult to a nation, generally to a Indonesian migrant workers who have contributed to a nation with their persperate as well as blood, often in a face of death.
Indeed, they have been some-more cool as well as important than academics who have willingly sold out their int! egrity.< /p>
Indonesia has thus dangling all migrant labour to Saudi Arabia until it signs an agreement upon workman protection. The republics flourishing prosperit! y equates to which these shows of independence, as well as a determination to strengthen a citizens, will increase.
Meanwhile, upon a distant western flank of a Islamic world, Turkey is positioning itself as a regional power. Blocked in a attempts to join a European Union, Turkey has incited eastwards with great effect.
With a sepulchral economy as well as dynamic society, Turkey is poised to seize a distinguished role in Middle Eastern affairs generally in a issue of a Arab Spring.
Ankara, for example, has demanded an apology as well as remuneration from Israel for last years raid upon a Gaza flotilla. With neither forthcoming, Turkey has solidified ties with a Israeli troops as well as diminished Tel Avivs ambassador.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has additionally maintained an independent position upon both Libya as well as Syria. He insisted upon joining Natos Libyan involvement though demanded special conditions principally 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 calm to sojourn mere allies of a West, or a silent, acquiescent Middle Eastern neighbour.
Indeed, Indonesia as well as Turkey have been behest for leadership, not usually of their particular regions though additionally of a Muslim universe at large. As members of a G-20 Summit, they demonstrate how democratisation as well as liberalisation can strengthen nations.
Malaysia, for a part, is now at a crossroads. Can you embark upon a some-more difficult, though in conclusion distant some-more rewarding, path of reform? Whatever you choose, democracy even in a Muslim universe is upon a move everywhere. We contingency ask ourselves: have been you to turn a victims ! of story or a victors?
No comments:
Post a Comment