December 18, 2012
All Eyes have been on President SBY
By Karim Raslan@http://www.thestar.com.my
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's revisit is really critical in the face of the many opportunities as good as challenges for the dual neighbours as they seek to raise shared ties.
WHEN the personality of the world's fourth many populous republic as good as Asia's fifth largest manage to buy (by Purchasing Power Parity) makes the foreign visit, the horde republic takes notice all the some-more so when which horde republic is Malaysia.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's attainment in Kuala Lumpur currently is therefore really critical economically, politically, militarily as good as even culturally. As China gathers in strength to the north as good as ASEAN's resolve is challenged time as good as again, the Malaysia-Indonesia shared relationship, (one of the regional grouping's core foundations) becomes ever some-more critical.
Moreover, carrying been in energy given 2004, Susilo, as Indonesia's initial personality to have participated in the G20 meetings, is really most the personality on the global stage.
And while many Indonesians feel which Malaysians exclude to acknowledge (and/or have been blind to) the Republic's thespian turn-around given Soeharto's tumble from energy in 1998, the truth is utterly the opposite.
Malaysians as good as generally business as good as political leaders have been all too aware of Indonesia's emergence as good as its growing might.
Indeed, it has become the source of substantial concern. For example, it is clear which the tide which swept Indonesian work to Malay! sian sho res in the 80's as good as 90's has now receded. The Republic's mounting wealth will keep workers during home. Meanwhile the critical cause in the Malaysian economic miracle cheap work will have to be recalibrated.
However, to my mind there is the single core complaint which will go on to nag the shared relationship. Speaking now as the columnist as good as the media practitioner operative with colleagues as good as friends in both Kuala Lumpur as good as Jakarta, it's clear which conjunction side has yet to come to conditions with the elemental socio-political differences which developed post-Second World War as good as post-Merdeka.
Malaysians as good as Indonesians lend towards to demeanour during the single an additional through the lens of the own particular chronological as good as cultural experiences.
We highlight the similarities the shared linguistic, religious as good as ethnic composition, the serumpun as good as dont consider about the really genuine differences, as good as unnecessary to say the differences have been substantial. In essence, Malaysia has been ruled by the quasi-aristocratic Malay elite (of which I'm the paid up member!) given 1957.
By approach of contrast, Indonesia's history has been scattered as good as dramatic. Consider the pro-Marhaen, ultra-nationalist rhetoric of the Soekarno years, followed by the traumatic blood-letting of the midst 60's, Soeharto's Orde Baru as good as afterwards the second period of uncertainty prior to Susilo's ascendance.
Our particular chronological narratives have made how you think, how you behave as good as how you correlate with the single another: changing us irrevocably. Yes, you speak the same denunciation but what we're observant is during times mutually unintelligible. Ironically, what this means is which you share too most to be cool, dispassionate as good as pragmatic.
Nonetheless, we're advantageous which both inhabitant leaders have been by inlet rational, unexcitable gentlemen. ! Both rej ect flamboyance as good as rabble-rousing. This has helped calm the intensity turbulence.
However, with the political temperature rising in both countries due to the imminence of inhabitant elections, the dual men's capability to rage the some-more colourful (and during times downright abusive) personalities will diminish.
With made at home politics assuming centre-stage, both sides will need to take caring not to give offence.Certainly it would be foolish for Malaysian leaders to speculate too plainly (as other regional capitals have done) as to the probability of the Prabowo presidency.
We need to remember which Susilo is the intelligent operator with an measureless inhabitant support base. Furthermore, the 2014 presidential polls have been the marathon.
Given these factors, I think the President may good be formulation to take the leaf out of the Lula (Brazil's much-loved former President) play-book.
Back in 2010, Lula was in most the same situation, carrying finished dual conditions as president. Recognising which his political lieutenants were unsuited for the highest office, Lula comparison Dilma Roussef, the constant as good as able technocrat (also his Chief of Staff) to lift on his legacy.
Using his powers as an obligatory as good as his undeniable popularity, Lula secured Brasilia for his protegee thereby ensuring his role as the name grise of her administration. Don't be surprised, afterwards if Susilo reaches opposite to Brazil for his strategy.
Similarly, the upcoming Malaysian general election promises to be the bruising as good as divisive knowledge the single which Malaysians have to bear by themselves.
Whilst the shared meetings will be tactful as good as elegantly managed, rest assured there'll be many some-more thespian incidents as both countries rigging up for elections, generally as prolonged as the elemental differences I've outlined have been ignored.
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