tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72501776549116119862024-03-15T01:48:55.158+07:00Complex IndulgenceBetter than just the simpleindulgence, more acceptable, more reliable.Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-34613314098828340772011-01-18T00:18:00.000+07:002011-01-18T00:18:02.290+07:00More richer outside JavaA survey released on Monday included a finding that may come as a surprise to the financial movers and shakers in Jakarta.<br />
Credit Suisse issued its first Emerging Consumer Survey on spending profiles in seven emerging economies, including Indonesia.<br />
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Its findings showed people here were not only confident about their future, but that those outside of Java earn and save more than those on the island.<br />
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Teddy Oetomo, vice president of equity research at Credit Suisse Indonesia, said people living outside of Java earn Rp 2.84 million on average per month compared with Rp 2.46 million ($310 vs. $270) on the most populous island.<br />
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Savings are also higher outside of Java, with an average Rp 520,000 per month compared with Rp 240,000.<br />
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“This indicates that people outside Java spend less that those in Java, and it is because consumer goods penetration is still low outside Java,” Teddy said.<br />
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With infrastructure expected to develop, he added, the penetration level should increase outside of Java.<br />
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The Indonesian portion of the survey included 1,600 people in 10 cities across the country, two-thirds of which were urban areas and one-third rural.<br />
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Arief Wana, Credit Suisse’s head of research for Indonesia, said via teleconference from Hong Kong that the findings showed Indonesian confidence in the future was very high.<br />
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“Ninety-six percent Indonesians are confident that their income will increase within the next 12 months, and 26 percent of them expect a 10 percent increase in income,” Arief said.<br />
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The government is pushing to raise per-capita income from $3,000 now to $5,000 by 2014.<br />
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That confidence is also reflected in people’s decisions to utilize more financing services, with 40 percent of respondents saying they would borrow in the future. Only 33 percent of respondents said they had taken bank loans.<br />
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Arief said 56 percent of those polled said they were ready to make a major purchase, such as real estate or a car.<br />
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Property penetration stands at 70 percent, he said, with 40 percent saying they expect to upgrade their housing and 33 percent saying they were ready to buy their first home.<br />
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Credit Suisse also looked into companies it said could take advantage of the findings.<br />
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Automobile distributors such as Astra International are expected to expand their earnings per share by 12 percent this year.<br />
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Bank Mandiri could see earnings per share grow by 35 percent, while Bank Raykat Indonesia could rise 25 percent.<br />
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Consumer goods producer Unilever is expected to grow its earnings per share by 22 percent.<br />
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Cement maker Semen Gresik could see 15 percent growth.<br />
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Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/java-island-not-leading-nation-in-personal-income-survey-says/417506<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=87aa24df-c866-41bf-9b67-78de7ea1cf44" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-5567235380323241722011-01-13T00:48:00.002+07:002011-01-13T00:50:17.733+07:00Sudan is more progressive than Malaysiaby: Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle<br />
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The two countries – Malaysia and Sudan, are like chalk and cheese.<br />
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Sudan is the largest and one of the most geographically diverse countries in Africa. The south is an area of swamps and rain forests and is separated from the mostly desert north by mountain ranges. The River Nile splits the country from east to west. Sudan's borders were drawn up by colonial powers with little regard to cultural realities on the ground.<br />
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On the other hand, equatorial Malaysia consists of two regions, famed for their dense rainforests and separated by 640 miles of the South China Sea.<br />
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Sudan has a population of 43.2 million (UN 2010) in an area of 2.5 million sq. km. The life expectancy is 58 years (men), and 61 years (women). The main exports are oil, cotton, sesame, livestock and hides, gum Arabic. The GNI per capita is USD 1,220<br />
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Malaysia has a population of 27.9 million in an area covering 329,847sq.km. The life expectancy is 73 years (men) and 78 years (women). The main exports are electronic equipments, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber and textiles. The GNI per capita is USD 7,230 (World Bank 2009).<br />
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Sudan's independence was rapidly overshadowed by conflict. Two rounds of north-south civil war cost the lives of 1.5 million people, and the Darfur conflict has displaced two million people and killed more than 200,000.<br />
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President Omar Hassan al-Bashir came to power in a military coup in 1989 and has ruled with an iron fist ever since.<br />
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Most northerners in Sudan are Arabic-speaking Muslims, while the various ethnic groups in the south are mostly Christian or follow traditional religions.<br />
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The government is based in the north and many southerners feel discriminated against. North and south have had a long history of fighting. Southerners are angry with attempts to impose Islamic law on the whole country.<br />
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Last Sunday, four million people took part in the country’s referendum on whether Sudan should split in two. The referendum is a result of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement.<br />
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The vote was a condition to end almost two decades of conflict between north and south.<br />
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read full article here: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=6237:sudan-is-more-progressive-than-malaysia&Itemid=2<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=0e4a22f4-1706-4d0f-a82e-98ec828ad281" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-79727406396372182602011-01-13T00:34:00.000+07:002011-01-13T00:34:00.654+07:00Israel Better Than Malaysia?by: Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle<br />
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Many people will have recently heard that former Israeli President Moshe Katsav was found guilty of rape and other sex crimes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a sad day for the Jewish state.<br />
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We also know about the inglorious origins of our own 1Malaysia logo and the ‘similarities’ between 1Israel and 1Malaysia.<br />
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1Israel’s campaign focuses on health and included a 1 Israel health fund. 1Malaysia also focuses on health and there is a 1Malaysia fund as well as a 1Malaysia clinic.<br />
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The 1Israel motto is “People first” whilst the 1Malaysia is “People first, performance now.”<br />
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But could we also learn from the Jewish state, about their system of justice?<br />
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They are not averse to prosecuting those who are in a position of power and responsibility. If the man or woman is guilty of a crime, then it is only right they are brought to justice.<br />
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If there are allegations of a crime, it should be properly investigated and the appropriate punishment meted out. That principle should also hold for Malaysia.<br />
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Katsav denied charges he twice raped an aide when he was a cabinet minister in the late 1990s, and molested or sexually harassed two other women who worked for him during his 2000-2007 term as president. A three-judge panel said his testimony had been “riddled with lies.”<br />
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In Malaysia, we are lucky to get past the police report stage. And if we did, the chances of a fair trial are like striking a lottery.<br />
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In the Israeli ruling, the panel said, “When a woman says no, she means no.”<br />
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In Malaysia, when a woman says ‘no’, her wishes are disregarded and she is subject to further abuse or violence.<br />
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Katsav was also convicted of obstructing justice, for trying to confer with one complainant about her testimony to police.<br />
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In Malaysia, complainants (and those who are supposedly assisting an investigation) are beaten up or spirited away or thrown out of windows of tower-blocks.<br />
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party of which Katsav is a veteran member, said after the verdict, “This is a sad day for the state of Israel and its residents”.<br />
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Read full article at: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5896:let%E2%80%99s-borrow-something-else-from-israel&Itemid=2<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=62bdc29c-3abe-4ba2-96e1-45bf236b78b5" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-49250168285463496742011-01-12T16:57:00.001+07:002011-01-12T17:10:27.815+07:00BW: The BRIC Debate - Drop Russia, Add Indonesia?So perhaps we are looking at IBRIC? Or BRICI?<br />
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by: Mark , TraderMark<br />
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That said, I never was able to catch the tail on the donkey named Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (IDX) as the only true pullback it had in 1.5 years (last May), I missed my limit order by a few dimes. Clearly it would have been far better to just buy the very extended chart in May 2009 around $40 and take the ride, but we are always so much smarter with the ability of 20/20 hindsight. Probably one of my biggest regret's the past 2 years was not once catching this train.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1KMGJn8m0eD1OvfM9Y2Z9-SK2mWE2PvbCUEPj_eAJ92Xby9Ofo4pgELclRYg8CwQyVa_KcRrD6OzN_s0h6XJfVfObp1qFsqyRPPmF_p4KV9rnzg_oYgE1e-WnSB3SkPrNypG2LUsJAo/s1600/795c64b9-e577-55f6-565f2416cca13403.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1KMGJn8m0eD1OvfM9Y2Z9-SK2mWE2PvbCUEPj_eAJ92Xby9Ofo4pgELclRYg8CwQyVa_KcRrD6OzN_s0h6XJfVfObp1qFsqyRPPmF_p4KV9rnzg_oYgE1e-WnSB3SkPrNypG2LUsJAo/s320/795c64b9-e577-55f6-565f2416cca13403.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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However at this point the Indonesia market is expensive, despite the long term positives. And Russia is actually quite cheap after doing little the past year, especially if oil stays above $90 for the foreseeable future. (this is very much a resource driven economy)* Hence, the BusinessWeek article is one of those short to intermediate term contrarian indicators from this seat at least (even if I agree in the long run). The media is offering it is time to chase into one of the hottest markets of the past 2 years.... probably just like most media outlets were saying you must get into China (down in 2010) or Brazil (flattish) about a year ago. Then again the S&P 500 added Netflix (NFLX) and F5 Networks (FFIV) after multi 100% runs in 2010, so performance chasing is the rule amongst humans. Most likely Indonesia is set for a period of near term consolidation much like those 2 BRIC highfliers had in 2010.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToVjQkFJV8xoEtV5kA0uv0N4R6gAI1MzyH3D7oF2I2jPfNpn55gS_tDycC0puLZ3Kb12WusPjlh7yQMRRZPzk0UN_m-yJITn0GIPUx3J7ZgcRLyNCwUoVKQpaMscCEzSM0jaJ9z3ViE0/s1600/795c9dda-e97b-c8f6-2de8e018dc9eff78.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToVjQkFJV8xoEtV5kA0uv0N4R6gAI1MzyH3D7oF2I2jPfNpn55gS_tDycC0puLZ3Kb12WusPjlh7yQMRRZPzk0UN_m-yJITn0GIPUx3J7ZgcRLyNCwUoVKQpaMscCEzSM0jaJ9z3ViE0/s320/795c9dda-e97b-c8f6-2de8e018dc9eff78.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"government" issues Russia is not exactly my favorite long term investment. <br />
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Via <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_48/b4205021134076.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5">BW</a>:<br />
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* Goodbye BRIC, hello BIIC? In 2001, three years after Russia's ruble collapsed, Goldman Sachs named the country a member of the BRICs—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—the emerging markets it said would be four of the most dominant economies by 2050. Over the next several years, BRIC-fixated investors piled into Russia as its resource economy thrived in the era of fast-rising oil prices.<br />
* For plenty of money managers and economists, however, the Russo euphoria is all but gone. From Nouriel Roubini to Morgan Stanley, they are calling either for Russia to be ousted from the BRICs altogether in favor of Indonesia or, at the least, for Indonesia to join the other four. They are put off by the policymaking drift in the Kremlin, Russia's demographic atrophy, and endemic corruption.<br />
* Indonesia's fiscal prudence, economic growth—6 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund—and strengthening social and political institutions have far more appeal. Twice-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has directed funding toward schools and health care, and Indonesia's coffers are full enough to put the onetime IMF bailout case on the brink of an investment-grade credit rating. (the other advantage is Indonesia is not export driven, so is much more of a self sustaining organic economy)<br />
* "Russia is just not a good place to put your money," says Richard Shaw, managing principal of QVM Group, a South Glastonbury (Conn.) investment advisory. Shaw says he avoids putting clients in Russian stocks and funds, and steers clear of BRIC-linked investments because of their Russia exposure. He would rather own Indonesian exchange-traded funds: "While Indonesia isn't a paragon of virtue, it's better, especially to participate in the Asian boom."<br />
* Indonesia, the world's fourth-most-populous country and largest Muslim democracy, has corruption, too. In part, that's a legacy of the Suharto dictatorship that ended in 1998.<br />
* Yet Tom Lydon, president of Global Trends Investments, says the Asian nation has more going for it than Russia. "Beyond natural resources, it is supported by improving domestic consumption, and anticorruption efforts appear to be working." Indonesia has sentenced several politicians and former ministers for corruption.<br />
* In its latest Global Competitiveness Report, the World Economic Forum ranked Indonesia 44th out of 139 countries—up from No. 54 the prior year. (Russia came in at No. 63.)<br />
* While Morgan Stanley has called for Indonesia to join the BRICs—Goldman has called the country a "Next-11" nation, in a runner-up list of sorts—economist Nouriel Roubini of New York University has argued that Indonesia should replace Russia in the bloc. "From an American perspective," he wrote last year in a column, "Indonesia is an attractive alternative to Russia, which has vied with Venezuela for leadership of the 'America in decline' cheering section."<br />
* 12 years after its financial crisis the archipelago is China's third-largest trading partner, foreign investment has more than tripled since 2004, and gross domestic product is growing faster than Russia's.<br />
* While Russia's Micex index has fallen 22 percent from its December 2007 peak, the Jakarta Composite Index is approaching an all-time high.<br />
* Russia's market fortunes have fallen so low that some investors are taking a second look, especially since Russian corporate profits have been robust. "Russia really stands out as being cheap and attractive," says Maarten-Jan Bakkum, an emerging-market equity strategist at ING Investment Management in The Hague.<br />
* Indonesia's supporters say that over the long haul the Asia nation has the edge. More than half of the population is under 30, while aging Russia faces a paucity of productive labor. The Kremlin may have to commit increasing sums to care for the elderly, says Wijayanto, managing director of the Paramadina Public Policy Institute in Jakarta. "Indonesia," he says, "has the potential to become a key global player."<br />
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source: http://www.forexhound.com/article/Stocks/Stocks/BW_The_BRIC_Debate_Drop_Russia_Add_Indonesia/277957<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=2d41f8ef-be73-45ee-8e74-96d97eb07888" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-44847315081295645182011-01-12T02:10:00.002+07:002011-01-12T02:22:15.670+07:00Wonderful Indonesia - The Heaven on Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9vZWOlS72JwjvM0_K-LQTz3ItE9_mNVTvemZrt9sLVJ5zMbHhP9NLGANPOItpb5IAk-crKt0-uVbrMzGFeI6qpnl8s0yxTWNaMojh-UOCgec6RZaEjUi7jD5FVgk_rUgH4C4gM5M3iA/s1600/wonderful-indonesia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9vZWOlS72JwjvM0_K-LQTz3ItE9_mNVTvemZrt9sLVJ5zMbHhP9NLGANPOItpb5IAk-crKt0-uVbrMzGFeI6qpnl8s0yxTWNaMojh-UOCgec6RZaEjUi7jD5FVgk_rUgH4C4gM5M3iA/s320/wonderful-indonesia.png" width="235" /></a></div>In 2011, some of the must-see destinations around the world include Indonesia. Flights to Indonesia are available with a variety of airlines including a recent addition of KLM flights to Bali the capital city of Indonesia. The KLM Royal Dutch airline offers flights to Indonesia via Amsterdam.<br />
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Last year, Indonesia celebrated high revenue from tourism that was recorded to be around $7.6 billion. However, hopes are even higher this year for Indonesia and Jero Wacik, Tourism Minister for Indonesia states that the country expects its 2011 tourism revenue to go up to $8.4 billion this time.<br />
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According to figures given by the Ministry, Indonesia received 6.4 million visitors last year. Next year’s foreign tourists are expected to number between 7.3 million and 7.7 million, with an average spending of $1,100 per visitor.<br />
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Mr. Wacik emphasized on the importance of tourism in the country and stated that:<br />
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“Tourism grew 9.3 percent this year, which is higher than the 6 percent economic growth. That means tourism contributes much to the economy,”<br />
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He added: “The foreign exchange revenue per visit this year is beyond our target of $1,000,”<br />
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In 2009-10, Indonesian Tourism Ministry branded the years as “Visit Indonesia Year” that turned up pretty well for the country. However, for this year the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have chosen a new branding for Indonesian tourism. According to Jero:<br />
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“Wonderful Indonesia, which means the country, has wonderful nature, culture, food, people, and also wonderful value for money,”<br />
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Indonesia is a wonderful country, blessed with amazing beaches, affordable accommodations and scenic landscapes. The country is known for its state of the art temples, rice fields, rainforest and wildlife. It’s one of the top Far East holiday destinations. <br />
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http://www.travelhouseuk.co.uk/news/index.php/visit-the-wonderful-indonesia-in-2011/<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indonesia.travel" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDwILIV_ZYK05CcdhJLTw0I275JaiHQ0C_DpeiWH2z2ILN1J__KjQUItwWGz01T5EI42-X6r3GzLxQ40nzMWEwz32h6m7OHbWz_YkuD4nAxknI1I_lFkJ-9u_RQUKNIhrZ6kE8dC-SzU/s200/WonderfulIndonesiaLogoBlack.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
More info about Indonesia Tourism, visit the official Indonesia tourism site at : <a href="http://www.indonesia.travel/">www.indonesia.travel</a><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=dd1692ad-89fd-442a-bb3e-fb13711be94c" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-18194734260503148042011-01-08T21:51:00.001+07:002011-01-08T21:56:03.563+07:0010 great places for travel bargains in 2011Even if your budget is stretched, 2011 can still be a year of travel. It’s just a matter of choosing the right place.<br />
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Mexico<br />
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Although drug-related violence has been concentrated near the U.S. border, many travelers have avoided the entire country. That means incredible bargains in Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and other resort areas, Leffel says. “There are so many rooms they are trying to fill, so every week there are unbelievable deals.” Bargains are even more eye-opening in interior cities. “You pay what the Mexicans pay,” says Leffel, who is spending the year living in the colonial city of Guanajuato. 800-446-3942; <a href="http://visitmexico.com/">visitmexico.com</a><br />
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Nepal<br />
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You don’t have to be a mountain climber to experience the home of Mount Everest. Visitors can take fascinating cultural tours out of Kathmandu, while fully outfitted whitewater rafting trips are available at less than $50 a day, a fraction of the cost in North America. Recent political problems mean that tourists are staying away, and bargains are even greater than usual, Leffel says. <a href="http://welcomenepal.com/">welcomenepal.com</a><br />
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Indonesia<br />
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The Asian country has been a bargain destination for a decade, and there’s no reason that will change in 2011, Leffel says. Resort islands like Bali are easy to reach, and although the country is popular with Australians, most Americans don’t realize how much Indonesia has to offer. “It’s a whole chain of islands and it’s got everything: beaches, diving, mountains and culture,” Leffel says. <a href="http://indonesia.travel/">indonesia.travel</a><br />
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Honduras<br />
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With first-class diving and Mayan ruins, Honduras has long been a bargain vacation spot. But tourists have stayed away since a political power struggle in 2009. Despite higher prices on Roatan, a popular cruise ship stopover, “they like to bill it as the Caribbean without the Caribbean prices, and it’s less than half the price for hotels and diving. You can pay $30 to $40 a dive,” Leffel says. 800-410-9608; <a href="http://letsgohonduras.com/">letsgohonduras.com</a>/<br />
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Vietnam<br />
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Whether you’re a backpacker looking for $5-a-night flophouse, or a high-end visitor seeking a luxury hotel, you’ll find bargains here. Vietnam is one of the few Asian countries where the dollar gained value in 2010, up about 5.5% for the year. “It’s a wonderful country to visit and it’s easy there. You can set up tours at hotels, and the food is great,” Leffel says. <a href="http://vietnamtourism.com/">vietnamtourism.com</a><br />
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Greece<br />
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This Mediterranean country has been attracting tourists for millennia, and despite its recent debt crisis, that’s not going to change. But the protests and strikes, compounded with the recession that has cut the number of European visitors, means there’s excess capacity now. “They’re hurting for business and rolling out the discounts,” Leffel says. Look for bargain tours, cruises and island vacations. 212-421-5777; <a href="http://visitgreece.gr/">visitgreece.gr</a><br />
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Ireland<br />
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It’s likely the Emerald Isle’s financial crisis will bring travel discounts this year, Leffel says. The country added scores of hotels during its recent economic boom, and now hoteliers are reporting trouble filling rooms. “Anytime a place is on CNN— that sticks in peoples’ heads longer than it should,” Leffel says. 800-742-6762; <a href="http://discoverireland.com/">discoverireland.com</a><br />
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Ethiopia<br />
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Not only does this African nation have incredible ruins and scenery, but its currency dropped more than almost any other — nearly 30% against the dollar in 2010. Ethiopia suffers from its location next to troubled Somalia. Leffel suggests traveling with a tour group to reduce the hassle out of exploring the undeveloped country. “There’s a lot to see and do here, but it’s for the heartier tourist,” he says. <a href="http://tourismethiopia.org/">tourismethiopia.org<br />
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Hungary<br />
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This Eastern European nation has all the charm of its western neighbors at lower costs. The country hasn’t yet adopted the euro, and its currency fell more than 10% against the dollar in 2010, making it a greater bargain. Leffel recommends avoiding pricey Budapest and heading to the wine country. <a href="http://gotohungary.com/">gotohungary.com</a><br />
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The USA<br />
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Few people realize what a travel bargain they have at home. Look for deals in places that depend on conventions, such as Las Vegas and Orlando. If you stay away from holiday and peak travel periods, you can find great deals, Leffel says. <a href="http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel_Tourism/State_Tourism.shtml">USA</a><br />
<br />
Copyright © 2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.<br />
http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-news/2011/01/06/10-great-places-for-travel-bargains-in-2011/<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=6510c4c2-0f8c-4a52-a854-3f859e72bf31" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-32875796610949723222011-01-01T01:17:00.001+07:002011-01-01T01:19:09.630+07:00MIKT is the new BRICsJim O'Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and creator in 2003 of the term BRIC economies, referring to Brazil, Russia, India and China, now says he sees the rise of the MIKT economies, referring to Mexico, Indonesia, Korea and Turkey.<br />
<br />
O'Neill said he was adding these four countries to his list of growth economies that could prosper despite whatever happens in advanced countries.<br />
<br />
O'Neill has already included Korea's economic potential in his list of the "Next Eleven," a class of countries that are forecast to emerge as the new axis of the global economy.<br />
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Investors have injected a great amount of money into BRICs since 2007, when investment in emerging markets was booming.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
However, local investors have been withdrawing funds amounting to around 3 trillion won ($2.6 billion) from the BRICs this year.<br />
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However, market analysts believe that BRICs will regain growth momentum among investors next year and MIKT countries will also benefit from increased investment.<br />
<br />
"These four countries are the ones that have shown a robust performance in the stock market this year and their economic fundamentals are considered strong," said Kwak Byung-ryul, an investment strategist at Eugene Investment & Securities.<br />
<br />
"However, I am not sure whether they will outpace the BRICs. I feel like those new growth economies are junior versions of the big economies. For example, Korea is a little China and Mexico is a small version of the U.S.," he explained.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, O'Neill predicted next year will become the "Year of the USA" with a possible rise of 20 percent in the stock market because of improving growth and falling unemployment.<br />
<br />
And if the U.S. economy is normalized next year as forecast, it will eventually boost the Korean economy as well as the domestic stock market, analysts explained.<br />
<br />
"One of the major reasons that the local stock market is able to maintain an uptrend is the rapid recovery of the U.S. economy," said Lee Jae-man, an equity analyst with Tong Yang Securities.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2930028">By Jung Jae-yoon (Korea JongAng Daily)</a><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=5ad9edea-f8c9-4fb6-b0d1-6868fb7e1495" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-64853411021115657392010-12-22T17:25:00.000+07:002010-12-22T17:25:58.167+07:00Unfit to be Prime Minister....of any country!When I look at Najib, Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Ibrahim Ali - all those bombastic self-proclaimed Ketuanan Malay “leaders,” I do not think of Hang Tuah! Huh! All they remind me of are Field Marshall Idi Amin Dada, Mobutu Sese Seko, Robert Mugabe and His Excellency Benito Mussolini Head of Government, Duce of Fascism, and Founder of the Empire. Yes at one time or another they were all leaders of their people, all striding to the sound of brass bands and traveling around in motorcades flanked by armed guards. Leaders they might be but they were all totally oblivious to the look of contempt and disgust from the very masses that they consider themselves to be Lord and Master over. Totally oblivious of the massive harm they have done to the country they ruled. Totally oblivious to the crumbling ruins of their government because all they see are the trappings of power and their personal needs. Never the misery of the people they rule. <br />
<br />
I want you all to understand this. When in power these kinds of leaders will do what they want. They would not investigate themselves. MACC, the AG, the Judiciary and PDRM (among other Government entities) are there to ensure that these leaders are given the means and leeway to do what they want. And what they want is to stay in power and make money for themselves and their cronies. <br />
<a name='more'></a>And who are the people who have been in charge in Malaysia? For 22 years of the last 30 years it has been this man call Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad. The fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia whose political career has lasted 40 years and still counting. <br />
<br />
<br />
Just as Singapore has been shaped by one iconic man Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia too has been shaped by one man, Mahathir……and therein lays a tale. Singapore is one of the world’s most prosperous countries with strong international trading links with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. Malaysia has the most prosperous politicians and strong family links with these politicians will ensure that your personal capita GDP will be equal, if not better than that of many African Politicians with similar inclinations to rob their own country blind. Transparency International Corruption Perception Index of the past 16 years puts Malaysia as the worst country in Asia-Pacific. Malaysia is the 7th most corrupt nation in Asia. Corruption is common among the country's political and business class. Bribery and other corrupt practices pose major problems for companies operating in Malaysia. The business of government is equally corrupt. So while Singapore has taken the high road, Mahathir has taken the low road and he has, unfortunately, taken us along for the ride. <br />
<br />
<br />
Now we have Najib Tun Razak. This man is unfit to be our leader. Unfit to be the Prime Minister of our country. He would have a hard time holding on to a position as Manager of any decent size organization where decency, honesty and integrity are required of its employees – as it should be of any individual holding a position of responsibility. <br />
<br />
<br />
But in UMNO he thrives! He is their President! He can fool UMNO, he can fool the Attorney General of Malaysia, he can fool the IGP, he can fool the Cabinet (though one can argue that the closing of one eye and the shutting of the other has the same effect!) – but try as hard as he can, he will not fool us and of course he cannot fool his wife. After all it takes a thief to catch another thief…birds of a feather flocks together…get my drift? <br />
<br />
<br />
Why is Najib unfit to be our Prime Minister? Let me count the ways….. <br />
<br />
<br />
Hands down the tragic murder of Altantuya tops the list. Don’t ask me about it because I am bias. Go ask that Indian kachang putih seller, the Pak Chik selling satay by the roadside or that Chinese guy selling Yong Tau Foo at the market in Lucky Gardens each morning. Ask them about Najib and Altantuya. This is what they say: <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>NAJIB IS GUILTY UNTIL AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY CLEARS HIM.</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
No need to swear in the mosque, no need to discredit Bala’s SD, no need to say that the murderers have already been caught, gone to trial and have been sentenced. The damming thing is this Najib – YOU know that WE know that YOU are involved somehow and somewhere in that sordid saga of the RM$500 million submarine commission for Razak Baginda and in the murder of Altantuya. Whether the facts are made known during your time, your children time or your children children’s time is to be seen. The truth shall prevail but you will not. <br />
Under your watch MACC murdered Teoh Beng Hock while he was under their custody. PDRM bludgeon Kugan to death and shot Aminurasyid to death! All the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again. You Najib did not even try! A political police force? Is that what PDRM has become? Huh! If today PDRM has become a tool for the survival of UMNO and BN then be assured that after the 13th General Election the people will claim back PDRM and not leave it to be the force of evil that PDRM has now become but cleanse it to become once again a Force for good. <br />
<br />
<br />
This is also the same Najib that made an offer of RM$5 Million to the people of Rejang Park during By-Election time to elect BN's Robert Lau. Truly a courageous (in politician lingo that means stupid!) and remarkable (in our lingo this also means stupid!) attempt by our Prime Minister to BUY a by-election. An enlightened electorate rejected his offer. <br />
<br />
Full Story: <a href="http://steadyaku-steadyaku-husseinhamid.blogspot.com/2010/12/unfit-to-be-prime-ministerof-any.html">Unfit to be Prime Minister....of any country!</a> <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=1617c521-55fc-4dd4-bd57-970cd1473527" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-75961039852686414872010-12-22T17:19:00.000+07:002010-12-22T17:19:22.581+07:00WikiLeaks: Malaysia on NZ radar screenBy FMT Staff<br />
<br />
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been on New Zealand immigration's radar screen for illegal immigrants since 2006 after 20 people were detained during a nine-month investigation ending in March 2007, according to online whistleblower WikiLeaks.<br />
<br />
It reported that a confidential document on the nation's action plan against human trafficking had identified Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea as hotspots for illegal immigrants.<br />
"In the case of Malaysia, while migrants are circumventing border control, New Zealand immigration is effectively identifying these cases through brothel raids.<br />
<br />
"GNZ will continue to monitor Malaysia's visa free travel status and rescind it if that proves the only way to more effectively manage illegal migration from that country," the report said.<br />
<br />
The WikiLeaks report, which was carried by nzherald.com an online newsportal, also noted that although New Zealand had "little or no trafficking problems", it was nonetheless monitoring all “suspicious” travel.<br />
Detailing the situation, the report said between June 2006 and March 2007, 20 illegal immigrants exiting Malaysia managed to slip through New Zeland's Advance Passenger Processing (APP) system.<br />
The APP requires airlines to identify passengers who may be seeking to enter New Zealand illegally before they board an overseas flight.<br />
<br />
According to the report, monitoring of potential illegal immigrants and trafficking victims continued after passengers arrived in New Zealand and had passed through immigration and customs.<br />
Field investigations, it noted, are carried out by immigration, visa, border control and other law enforcement officers.<br />
<br />
The report said New Zealand's law enforcement officials conducted 1,300 investigations to identify illegal migrants including trafficking victims. While not a single trafficking case was found, the officers did stumble on 18 illegal immigrants from Hong Kong, one from South Korea and 20 from Malaysia.<br />
<br />
"Although the number of illegal migrants remains small compared to the overall number of visa-free entrants, GNZ recognises the need to prevent more widespread abuses," it noted. - <b>FreeMalaysiaToday</b><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=e7dc5b02-93f3-45bd-867b-7cd5ebcbe517" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-15030098186160394802010-12-22T17:15:00.000+07:002010-12-22T17:15:47.283+07:00Wanted: Document on 'Malay supremacy'KUALA LUMPUR - PAS has demanded UMNO leaders to show the official document containing a declaration of their battlecry 'ketuanan Melayu' (Malay supremacy), as the concept was nowhere to be found in the Federal Constitution.<br />
<br />
PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar said UMNO leaders should give "clear and detailed" explanation on the real meaning of the slogan, which they have been desperately defending.<br />
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“I sincerely urge UMNO leaders to define the meaning of 'ketuanan Melayu' because the concept is not found in the Federal Constitution and only coming out from UMNO.<br />
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"Reveal the document on Malay supremacy for the public's viewing,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.<br />
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Mahfuz said he hoped that UMNO leaders particularly Najib Razak could come up with the document before the end of parliamentary session on Thursday.<br />
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'Too very often'<br />
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Saying UMNO was trying to portray itself as "a champion of Malay issues", including the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Mahfuz said the slogan 'ketuanan Melayu' was being invoked too often.<br />
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“They link it to the Malay supremacy slogan. Even in the Felda issue, they try to show that there are treachery and betrayal involved (in revealing the mismanagement in Felda),” he added.<br />
<br />
Pakatan Rakyat leaders had earlier come under attack from UMNO politicians following a speech by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during the party's annual congress last month, in which she urged Malays to become a "dignified race" rather than fighting for "Malay supremacy".<br />
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Her remark drew angry comments from UMNO and Perkasa leaders, with the latter even branding Azizah a "political whore", and another indulging in curses of her husband Anwar Ibrahim.<br />
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Other UMNO leaders claimed the phrase “Malay supremacy” was coined to protect the Malay Rulers, and accused PKR of rejecting the Malay Rulers' institution.<br />
<br />
Mahfuz pointed out that even historian Dr Khoo Kay Kim had concurred that the concept was not part of the Constitution.<br />
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Referring to suggestions that those who questioned 'Malay supremacy' had betrayed the Malay rulers, Khoo said the Constitution had merely called for loyalty to the Malay rulers. - <b>Harakahdaily</b><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=0d8d59a6-e4f5-4cd9-a81e-c172470bf445" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-18626647863626275212010-12-22T17:13:00.000+07:002010-12-22T17:13:35.298+07:00Singapore thinks Asian allies corrupt, incompetent: WikiLeakswww.thenews.com.pk<br />
<br />
SINGAPORE: Singaporean diplomats think the leaders of some close Asian allies including neighbouring Malaysia are corrupt, incompetent or stupid, cables from WikiLeaks revealed Sunday.<br />
<br />
Confidential diplomatic notes given by the whistle-blower website to Australia’s Fairfax media group contained unflattering assessments of key figures in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Japan.<br />
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“A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia,” permanent secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bilahari Kausikan, reportedly told US Deputy Secretary of Defence for East Asia David Sedney.<br />
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As a result, “the situation in neighbouring Malaysia is confused and dangerous” and there is a “distinct possibility of racial conflict”, according to the cable dated September 2008. Such conflict would see ethnic Chinese flee Malaysia and “overwhelm” Singapore, Bilahari was quoted as saying.<br />
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Another official, Peter Ho, reportedly described Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as “an opportunist” who “would not hesitate” to be critical of Singapore if “it is expedient for him to do so.”<br />
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Bilahari was also reportedly critical of the Thai government, labelling fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra “corrupt” along with “everyone else, including the opposition”.<br />
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In a 2009 memo, Singapore’s ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh — known for being mild-mannered and eloquent in public — was uncharacteristically blunt in his assessment of regional heavyweights Japan and India, the documents reveal.<br />
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“Koh described Japan as ‘the big fat loser’ in the context of improving ties between China and Asean,” a leaked cable detailing a meeting between him and US officials stated.<br />
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“He attributed the relative decline of Japan’s stature in the region to Japan’s ‘stupidity, bad leadership, and lack of vision,’” it added.<br />
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“He was equally merciless towards India, describing his ‘stupid Indian friends’ as ‘half in, half out’ of Asean (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.)”<br />
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Foreign minister George Yeo said the unflattering appraisals of Singapore’s allies should not be taken out of context.<br />
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“We should not divorce, even if true, what is said from the context,” Yeo said in comments carried on local broadcast news network Channel NewsAsia’s website. “That is what certain individuals said about others. There could be a diversity of views.”<br />
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According to the leaked cables, Singapore leaders believe Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had sex with a male aide in a honey trap set by his enemies.<br />
<br />
A US state department cable dated November 2008 and given by the whistleblower to Australia’s Fairfax media group detailed intelligence gathered by Australian and Singaporean intelligence on the opposition leader’s case.<br />
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“The Australians said that Singapore’s intelligence services and (former prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew have told ONA (Office of National Assessments) in their exchanges that opposition leader Anwar ‘did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted’,” the cable read.<br />
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It added that Singapore reached its conclusion based on “technical intelligence,” which a Fairfax report said was likely to involve intercepted communications.<br />
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“ONA assessed, and their Singapore counterparts concurred, ‘it was a set-up job and he probably knew that, but walked into it anyway’,” the cable wrote.<br />
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Anwar, 63, has vehemently denied sodomising his aide, 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, claiming he was the victim of a political conspiracy. He faces 20 years in prison if found guilty of sodomy, a serious crime in Muslim-dominated Malaysia.<br />
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Tian Chua, vice-president of Anwar’s People’s Justice Party, dismissed the revelations as “hearsay”.<br />
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“There is no doubt that this is a trumped-up charge,” he said. “If the claim is true... it would have been relatively easy for the government to prove it.”“We cannot depend on what the foreign intelligence officials say. The question is whether the government has evidence to convict Anwar in court.”<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=be65b55b-3657-484c-bcd1-f4ce98fe1b75" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-8452345084603192882010-12-22T16:38:00.000+07:002010-12-22T16:38:11.132+07:00RI to walk out if lasers used in final: PSSISource: <b>The Jakarta Post</b><br />
<br />
The Indonesian Soccer Association says the national team will walk off the pitch should Malaysian spectators use lasers to blind Indonesian players in the first leg of the Asean Football Federation Cup final in Kuala Lumpur to on Dec. 26.<br />
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“If there is a laser we will not continue to play,” Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Nurdin Halid said as quoted by Kompas.com.<br />
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Nurdin said he had heard that Vietnam's players had complained about the use of lasers by Malaysian fans in their semifinal match.<br />
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Reports said the lasers may have impaired the Vietnam goalkeeper's visibility, leading to Malaysia's first goal.<br />
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“We don’t want to suffer the same thing,” Nurdin said.<br />
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The second leg of the AFF Cup final will be held on Dec. 29 in Jakarta.<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=ee9146a3-ccc7-4d6e-9aa6-764ded188966" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-41464079734832212082010-12-22T16:29:00.000+07:002010-12-22T16:29:17.328+07:00Over 1,000 watch national team practiceSource: <b>The Jakarta Post</b><br />
<br />
Indonesia’s enthusiasm for its national soccer team is on the rise as over 1,000 gathered on Wednesday in Senayan to watch the team practice.<br />
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According to tribunnews.com, spectators young and old were cheering and clapping during the practice.<br />
<br />
Indonesia is scheduled to play against Malaysia in the Asian Football Federation Cup’s finals on Dec. 26 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The second match, to be held in Jakarta, is slated for Dec. 29.<br />
<br />
The last match on Sunday saw Indonesia defeat the Philippines 1-0, with striker Christian Gonzales delivering the game-winning goal.<br />
<br />
Coach <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Riedl" rel="wikipedia" title="Alfred Riedl">Alfred Riedl</a> still has a few more days to decide whether or not to position Yongky or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irfan_Bachdim" rel="wikipedia" title="Irfan Bachdim">Irfan Bachdim</a>, another striker said to be roughly equal to Yongky, on the bench.<br />
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Winger Oktovianus Maniani and quarterback <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firman_Utina" rel="wikipedia" title="Firman Utina">Firman Utina</a> were still undergoing therapy during practice due to injuries.<br />
<br />
“I can’t say yet whether or not Okto will be put on the field. We have yet to determine his most recent condition…but we hope that he will be healed at the time of the game,” Riedl said on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Malaysia’s organizing committee for the Kuala Lumpur match has prepared 72,500 tickets, priced at RM 30 (US$9.60) and RM 50, for the country’s local supporters.<br />
<br />
Malaysian Football Federation secretary-general Datuk Azzudin Ahmad said that the committee had yet to designate tickets for Indonesian supporters.<br />
<br />
“…There are still talks between the [Indonesian Football Association] and the Indonesian Embassy…” He said.<br />
<br />
Datuk said that if the embassy refused the designated quota, then the ticket sales would be conducted directly in booths near Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil football stadium, where the match is to be held.<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d45b9cc6-f34c-4d87-8af0-3a9a13d59235" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-38545877074565832172010-12-06T18:49:00.000+07:002010-12-06T18:49:17.806+07:00Amnesty demands action on Malaysian caning "epidemic"By Romen Bose (AFP)<br />
<br />
KUALA LUMPUR — Caning in Malaysia has "hit epidemic proportions" with thousands of people subjected every year to beatings which leave permanent physical and mental scars, Amnesty International said Monday.<br />
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The London-based rights group called on the Malaysian government to immediately end the practice of judicial caning, which is meted out for immigration offences as well as more serious crimes like murder and rape.<br />
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"Caning in Malaysia has hit epidemic proportions," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International?s Asia-Pacific director.<br />
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"In every case that we examined, the punishment amounted to torture, which is absolutely prohibited under any circumstances."<br />
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Amnesty said in a report that since 2002, when parliament made immigration violations subject to caning, thousands of migrant workers and foreigners seeking asylum had undergone the punishment.<br />
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"According to our figures, more than 10,000 people are caned by authorities in Malaysia annually and this number is actually a conservative estimate," said report author Lance Lattig.<br />
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"At the very least, we would say the government should issue a moratorium on the caning of anyone who is seeking asylum because they are at risk of persecution in another country," he told a press conference.<br />
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Lattig said caning was introduced by British colonial authorities prior to Malaysia's independence in 1957 but that most former colonies had abandoned the practice.<br />
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"It exists as a residue of an extremely brutal form of Victorian punishment that exists in very few other places," he said.<br />
<br />
The report detailed how in Malaysian prisons "specially trained caning officers tear into victims? bodies with a metre-long cane swung with both hands at high speed."<br />
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"The cane rips into the victim?s naked skin, pulps the fatty tissue below, and leaves scars that extend to muscle fibre. The pain is so severe that victims often lose consciousness."<br />
<br />
Amnesty said that prison officers were paid a bonus for each stroke, enabling them to double their income by administering the punishment.<br />
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"Others take bribes to intentionally miss, sparing their victims," it said.<br />
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Malaysian home ministry and prison officials declined to comment on the report when contacted by AFP on Monday.<br />
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Corporal punishment has become a hot topic in Malaysia, particularly after a a Muslim mother-of-two was sentenced to six strokes and a fine last year for drinking alcohol.<br />
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However, caning for religious offences -- ordered by Islamic courts which run in parallel with civil courts in the Muslim-majority country -- is much lighter than in the civil justice system.<br />
<br />
Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno's sentence for drinking alcohol was eventually reduced to community service but three other women then received between four and six strokes of the cane after being convicted of sex outside marriage.<br />
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The penalties triggered uproar among women's activists and human rights advocates.<br />
<br />
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=7ef5b7a7-2b73-4344-9222-ab346d977f8b" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-71719164020888048532010-12-06T18:22:00.000+07:002010-12-06T18:22:29.972+07:00RI has potential to join top five global economic powersBogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said resource-rich Indonesia with a population of 240 million has great potential to become a new global economic power.<br />
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"We have great potential to emerge as a new global economic power," he said on the sidelines of a panel discussion held by the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) here on Sunday.<br />
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The panel discussion was part of the ICMI`s 5th congress held at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC) here on Dec 4-7.<br />
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Hatta said the great potential could boost the national economy. "The national economy has been performing well all the time. In 2010, it is expected to grow by an average of 7.0 percent."<br />
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The average growth of 7.0 percent this year outstripped the government-set target of 6.8 percent, he said.<br />
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Given the higher-than-expected average growth this year, he expressed optimism that Indonesia would soon emerge as a new global economic power. <br />
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"Looking ahead, we will become the world`s five biggest economic powers," said Hatta who is also chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).<br />
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"We are optimistic that the national economic growth will continue to increase every year. Even foreign observers have predicted that Indonesia will soon become main part of the global economic powers," he said. <br />
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Source: Kantor Berita Antara<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=bcdbfe32-0518-48ed-b99b-7966d3c4b18e" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-13892992093892959972010-12-06T18:03:00.000+07:002010-12-06T18:03:15.894+07:002010 a big year for Indonesia's wealthiestForbes Indonesia<br />
<br />
Despite recent volcanic activity, Indonesia's star is shining bright. Its stock index has outperformed those of all other major Asian economies, up more than 50 per cent in dollar terms so far this year.<br />
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Only Mongolia's and Sri Lanka's markets did better. No surprise then that the country's richest enjoyed big gains. Their total worth surged to $71 billion, up from $42 billion last year, hitting an all-time record.<br />
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In another first, more than half of the top 40 are billionaires, up from last year's dozen. The Hartono brothers retain the top spot for the second year in a row with a net worth of $11 billion. They inherited clove cigarette maker Djarum from their father, but these days get the bulk of their wealth from Bank Central Asia, the country's largest bank, which returned to the ranks of the Forbes Fab 50 this year.<br />
<br />
Behind them is Susilo Wonowidjojo, the year's biggest dollar gainer, worth $8 billion, up from $2.6 billion. His family still gets the bulk of their wealth from Gudang Garam, the country's largest clove cigarette maker. Sixteen of the 21 billionaires made their fortunes in coal or palm oil.<br />
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We were able to identify seven new entrants, worth a total of over $8 billion. Several, including Kiki Barki of coal miner Harum Energy, debut thanks to recent initial public offerings, of which Indonesia was one of the most ¬active markets in Asia. He is one of five coal tycoons to make their first appearance on this top 40 list.<br />
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The richest of all newcomers is Sri Prakash Lohia, a native Indian who is now an Indonesian citizen and controls Indonesia's largest polyester manufacturer, Indorama Synthetics. His brother Ashoke, who is based in Thailand, is also a billionaire, as is his brother-in-law Lakshmi Mittal, who is Asia's second-richest citizen but lives in London, where the Indonesian Lohia too has a home.<br />
<br />
It was also a notable year for deal-making for Indonesia's richest. Chairul Tanjung, for instance, bought a 40 per cent stake in Carrefour's Indonesian operations for $300 million. Peter Sondakh's Rajawali sold its stake in cement firm Semen Gresik for $1.1 billion. The Bakrie family announced a $3 billion deal with Europe's Rothschild family, in which it traded shares in its coal outfit for a stake in London-listed Vallar.<br />
<br />
The minimum required to make the list was $455 million, up from $240 million last year and a huge jump from 2008's $55 million. Only four people on the list are worth less than they were last year. Eight from 2009 fell out of the ranks, making room for the newcomers as well as Sjamsul Nursalim, who returns to the list after a one-year absence. Among the notable drop-offs are Soegiarto Adikoesoemo of sorbitol maker AKR and Paulus Tumewu of retailer Ramayana, both of whose fortunes rose, but not enough to keep pace.<br />
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<b>Methodology</b><br />
<br />
Net worths were calculated using Nov. 15 stock prices and exchange rates. Privately held companies were valued by comparing them to similar publicly traded companies. Unlike the Forbes billionaires ranking, which focuses on individual wealth, the Indonesia list reflects a number of family fortunes.<br />
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<i>Reporting by Sonya Angraini, Justin Doebele, Ulisari Eslita, Pudji Lestari, Suzanne Nam, Lan Anh Nguyen, Yessar Rosendar, Reva Sasistiya, Yus Husni M. Thamrin, Alvi Tirtadji, Ardian Wibisono and Aditya Wikrama.</i><br />
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Source: http://www.ctv.ca<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=620f0747-30f5-4ac3-b267-c74f47531b38" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-55615853585610125332010-12-06T17:53:00.000+07:002010-12-06T17:53:05.288+07:00Indonesia Keen to Rest Key Players vs. ThailandWimbo Satwiko<br />
<br />
Jakarta. With his first objective in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup achieved, Indonesia coach Alfred Riedl plans to rest some of his first-team players for the team’s final group game.<br />
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Indonesia dismantled Laos 6-0 at Jakarta’s Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday, guaranteeing itself top spot in Group A and a berth in the semifinals.<br />
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After thumping Malaysia 5-1 in its opening match, Indonesia entered Saturday’s game wary of a recent improvement in form by a resilient Laos squad.<br />
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Against Indonesia’s in-form attack, however, Laos wilted and was a far cry from the team that forced a surprising draw with Thailand last week.<br />
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Riedl had coached Laos before moving to Indonesia, and many believe the coach’s first-hand knowledge of the opposition made the difference.<br />
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“Laos played exactly the way we expected them to play,” Riedl said on Saturday.<br />
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“It wasn’t easy during the first 30 minutes, but once we started scoring goals, the match became much easier for us.”<br />
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Riedl said he wanted his team to keep its focus razor-sharp against Thailand, its last opponent in Group A.<br />
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The Austrian coach added that he would make some changes to his roster for Tuesday’s match.<br />
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“We’ve already qualified for the semifinals, so I may give other players a chance to see action against Thailand,” Riedl said.<br />
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“But we vow to play a fair match on Tuesday. We respect our supporters who will be watching the match.”<br />
<br />
While Indonesia is safely through to the next round, Thailand’s back is against the wall, having picked up only two points from two matches.<br />
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The Thais drew 2-2 with Laos then 0-0 with Malaysia, putting pressure on Bryan Robson’s team to secure three points against a red-hot Merah Putih side.<br />
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“We would have liked to [beat Malaysia] and move one step closer to the semifinals, but now we are going to have to do it the hard way,” Robson said.<br />
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“We need to beat Indonesia, even though it will be a very tough task. I’m sure we can give them a tough game, and I still feel that we have a chance to go forward to the semifinals.”<br />
<br />
In Saturday’s game, Laos midfielder Kanlaya Sysomvang gave Indonesia a scare with a shot that struck the post in the 10th minute, an incident that seemed to act as a wake-up call for the host.<br />
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Indonesia captain Firman Utina started the goal rush when he converted a penalty kick in the 28th minute after Christian Gonzales was tripped inside the box. Then a 35th-minute strike by Muhammad Ridwan made it 2-0.<br />
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Indonesia went into top gear in the second half, with Firman picking up a second goal in the 50th and Irfan Bachdim scoring in the 62nd to make it 4-0.<br />
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Arif Suyono came on for Ridwan in the 70th and needed only seven minutes to find the net and make it 5-0, before Oktovianus Maniani’s 81st minute goal sealed the win.<br />
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In Group B matches on Sunday, the Philippines pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset, shocking defending AFF Cup champion Vietnam 2-0 in Hanoi.<br />
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In the other game, Singapore beat Myanmar 2-1. The Philippines and Singapore now lead Group B with four points each.<br />
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Source: The Jakarta Globe<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=246c59a7-4671-4c70-95f2-305762457451" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-3939330608695715772010-12-06T17:50:00.000+07:002010-12-06T17:50:24.227+07:00Liverpool Plans to Build Indonesian Football AcademyDominic Menor<br />
<br />
Jakarta. Indonesia could be in line for Southeast Asia’s first permanent football academy to develop youngsters’ talent under plans being considered by English Premier League Club Liverpool.<br />
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The club is eager to boost its presence in Asia through its youth wing, the Liverpool International Football Academy.<br />
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Should the plan take off, Indonesia will be the first country in Asia that the Liverpool Academy will call home, with the prospect of Indonesian students getting a direct line to try out to play in the Premier League.<br />
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The Anfield club has already sent its youth coaches twice this year to Jakarta.<br />
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After celebrated former Reds striker Ian Rush presided over one clinic in May, the club last Saturday launched eight days of activities to promote football education.<br />
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Two coaches are conducting football clinics with almost 200 children and making outreach visits to schools.<br />
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The British Chamber of Commerce in Jakarta has been responsible for setting up the links to the club, and executive director Chris Wren said now the academy’s frequent visits were hoped to open the door to bolder plans.<br />
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“There is a plan to establish a Liverpool Academy in Jakarta next year. Assuming this [visit] is successful and things go as planned, it could be under way as early as May,” said Wren, a Liverpool native who has worked closely with club officials.<br />
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BritCham began holding football activities several years ago as part of the corporate social responsibility programs of British companies in Indonesia.<br />
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A key initiative of the program, Giving Kids a Sporting Chance, was a youth league in Jonggol, West Java, in which 3,000 children now play.<br />
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In his visit in May, Rush was apparently so impressed that the second series of clinics was set up.<br />
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Liverpool Academy coaches Adam Flynn and Ben Parsonage are running the clinics at Jakarta’s Bung Karno sports complex.<br />
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Rush is due to fly in to assist in other initiatives later this week.<br />
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This visit is also being used as a detailed feasibility study for the permanent academy, Wren said.<br />
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“The dream is that what started as a community idea three years ago could end up in a Premier League star for Indonesia, someone who could represent the best of the country,” he said.<br />
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“What excited Ian Rush in May is that a third of Indonesia is under 18, and that there’s so much interest in football. There is too much emphasis on Jakarta, but some of the best talent can be found in the provinces, maybe in kids who now only have a can to kick around rather than a football.”<br />
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Wren hoped any academy — likely to be in Jakarta — would be Indonesian in style.<br />
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“I’d like to see an ordinary school with the national curriculum and focusing on football first then other sports,” he said. “It would have boarding facilities and be open to all religions.”<br />
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Liverpool officials were keen on holding a nationwide talent search, with exceptional players being granted scholarships.<br />
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Academy coaches would come from England and be accredited by the English Football Association.<br />
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Wren warned that the plans rested on corporate investors willing to fund the school. “We would need to find partners to invest, the kind prepared not to see any profit for the first few years,” he said.<br />
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“Football is a very expensive business, but I believe there would be no end of interest. The challenge will be finding partners who feel the passion of what it’s all about. If that challenge can be met, the rest of it will fall into place.”<br />
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Source: The Jakarta Globe<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=89bf01b5-ea7c-4819-903d-253deb21fe83" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-25232803648202567982010-12-06T17:47:00.000+07:002010-12-06T17:47:51.191+07:00Rajagopal wants Malaysia to beat Laos in last group matchBy ERIC SAMUEL<br />
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PETALING JAYA: Hosts Indonesia, having already sealed their place in the semi-finals, can decide the fate of the other three teams in Group A of the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Federation (AFF) championships.<br />
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Coach Alfred Riedl’s side are safely through to the last four after picking up an unassailable lead at the top of the standings in the group with six points from two straight wins. Three-time winners Thailand are next with two points, followed by Malaysia and Laos with one each.<br />
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Thailand seem to have the best chance to grab the second semi-final spot from the group because they will be playing Indonesia in their last group match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta tomorrow.<br />
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As Indonesia have already qualified for the last four, they may take their foot off the pedal and allow Thailand to get the win they need to go through.<br />
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However, should Indonesia field their strongest line-up and hold or beat the Thais, it will open the door for either Malaysia or Laos, who meet at the same time at the Jaka Baring Stadium in Palembang, to sneak into the last four.<br />
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National coach K. Rajagopal said that having gone through two absorbing matches “I believe we are in with a chance to make the semi-finals”.<br />
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“What is important is for the team to collect three points against Laos. I have told the players to accept whatever the outcome of the Thailand-Indonesia match. As far as I am concerned, we’ll have a go at Laos,” said Rajagopal in a telephone interview from Jakarta yesterday.<br />
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He also tried to look on the bright side, saying that Indonesia would not want to disappoint their fans by losing their last group game against Thailand.<br />
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“I am sure the coach is a professional and the last thing he wants is to see his team lose in front of their home fans. We have got to be positive and look forward to our match against Laos,” said Rajagopal.<br />
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He also explained that there was not much his team could do in the 0-0 draw against Thailand on Saturday.<br />
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“I am not offering excuses but my back four are first-timers and to come off with a point against Thailand is a decent result. At least, we are still in it and, hopefully, we can get our first win against Laos on Tuesday,” said Rajagopal.<br />
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Source: The Star<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=4fc312f4-751b-46bc-b13a-41811aa05d09" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-21819458287135027092010-12-06T17:42:00.000+07:002010-12-06T17:42:34.578+07:00Malaysia seeks investment from RI businessmenRangga D. Fadillah, The Jakarta Post<br />
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Malaysia has shown signs of perceiving Indonesia as a source of investment that could boost its own economic growth by driving its ambitious economic transformation programs designed to increase its income per capita to US$15,000 by 2020.<br />
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Kuala Lumpur invited Indonesian businesspeople to explore investment potentials in Malaysia during the recent visit of Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to Jakarta.<br />
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Muhyiddin met with representatives of Indonesian prominent businessmen to affirm his country’s commitment to opening larger opportunities for private business entities to become involved in the country’s development projects.<br />
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“I came here to explain about Malaysia’s economic transformation programs, including 131 projects opened for the private sector’s involvement both from Malaysia and Indonesia,” he said at a press conference after the meeting at Bank Mega Tower in Jakarta on Friday evening.<br />
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He said the Malaysian government had decided to reduce its involvement in those offered projects, adding that the government would cover no more than 8 percent of all required funds.<br />
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“The remaining 92 percent is expected to come from private investments,” he said.For the visit, Malaysia had prepared several incentives, such as tax credit and free import duties for private companies involved in projects offered by the government, Yassin said. He added that his country was also ready to offer more competitive incentives if necessary.<br />
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“We can also offer customized incentives based on negotiations with investors,” he told Malaysian and Indonesian reporters attending the press conference.<br />
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Indonesian renowned entrepreneur and chairman of Para Group, Chairul Tanjung, said that Indonesian businessmen welcomed the Malaysian government’s goodwill and pledged to seriously observe all investment opportunities offered by the neighboring country.<br />
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“This is a new thing, a deputy prime minister coming to us [Indonesian businessmen] and explaining what has changed in Malaysia’s economy,” he said.<br />
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He went on to say that several businessmen had expressed interest in investing in the near future. However, he said, the visit was just an initial meeting and there would be a series of other meetings to flesh out the investment plans.<br />
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“James Riyadi [owner of Lippo Group] said that he was interested in expanding his healthcare business both in Indonesia and Malaysia, while Edwin Suryajaya [owner of Astra Agro Lestari] said he was ready to fund projects in Malaysia if he could find suitable local partners,” Chairul said.<br />
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Para Group, which owns a 40 percent stake in giant retail company Carrrefour Indonesia, earlier showed interest in investing in Malaysia by acquiring Carrefour Malaysia, but due to technical problems, the company retracted its bid, he said.<br />
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Muhyiddin said the total value of the 131 projects offered to the private sector was US$440 billion. He said he expected that his country could gather around $15 billion in investments a year for the next 10 years.<br />
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“We have 12 key sectors that can boost our economic growth.<br />
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“Among others are oil and gas, education, and palm oil,” he explained.<br />
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He said that he also saw a growing enthusiasm to invest in several sectors like finance, healthcare, construction and transportation. He said he hoped his country could work with Indonesia in developing entrepreneurship training to produce more businessmen in his country.<br />
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Source: The Jakarta Post<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=78bf7345-fc3c-4bdd-8d01-9dae7247a72d" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-41275549393013514762010-12-04T21:33:00.000+07:002010-12-04T21:33:17.065+07:00Indonesia’s Young Hero Steals Hearts With GoalJakarta. Indonesia’s Irfan Bachdim has become an overnight football sensation after scoring in his national team debut, the 5-1 destruction of bitter rival Malaysia on Wednesday night.<br />
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The handsome 22-year-old, born to an Indonesian father and Dutch mother, delighted 30,000 diehard fans at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta and millions of others huddled around televisions throughout the country with his gutsy performance and the side’s final goal of the match.<br />
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By midday, Irfan had attracted more than 30,000 followers on Twitter, up from around 7,000 the previous day. His name is being mentioned on the micro-blogging site about 1,000 times per hour.<br />
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And among Irfan’s most vocal supporters is his girlfriend, Jennifer Kurniawan, who models lingerie in Germany under the name Jennifer Jasmin.<br />
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“I’m soo proud of my man ... !!! And I love him soo much,” wrote Jennifer, who has reportedly been dating Irfan for just three months but has already adopted his last name on her Twitter account, @JenniferBachdim.<br />
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Like her boyfriend, Jennifer said she was of mixed parentage, born to a German mother and an Indonesian father.<br />
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“Mummy is German, Daddy is Indonesian. I live in Germany and yes, I am Bachdim’s girlfriend,” she wrote in response to queries as to why she had taken the player’s last name.<br />
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Irfan did not appear concerned by the development, unashamedly tweeting: “You’re my heart and soul, my everything!! I love you!!” But he also took time to bask in the glory of the Malaysia annihilation and expressed his gratitude to Indonesia.<br />
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“Cannot stop thinking about yesterday! So amazing 5-1. I wanna thank the whole of Indonesia! Indonesia makes us proud, we will fight for this country,” he wrote.<br />
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Manchester United star and England captain Rio Ferdinand took time to watch Indonesia play from the comfort of his living room, relaying progress of the match on his Twitter account.<br />
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“Just saw that Indonesia beat Malaysia 2-1, my Indonesian twitfam [Twitter family] must be very happy right now!,” he wrote on his official Twitter account @rioferdy5. “Wow its now 3-1 to Indonesia! That was a beating!!” Ferdinand wrote.<br />
<br />
When Bachdim scored the final goal, Ferdinand shared the excitement. “The end score is 5-1 to Indonesia :).”<br />
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@FPIYeah, a Twitter account established to mock Indonesia’s militant Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), also got in on the act.<br />
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“We don’t like @IrfanBachdim10. He only kicks a ball and already becomes a trending topic [on Twitter]. We kicked people but we’ve never become a trending topic.”<br />
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<b>The Jakarta Globe</b><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=3f8ee5a7-e507-4f5d-90ab-34dbda6dc793" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-62100614307350991262010-12-04T20:28:00.000+07:002010-12-04T20:28:47.659+07:00Karim Raslan: Yet, East Kalimantan, Sabah’s immediate neighbour, is one of the republic’s richest provinces.<h2 id="story_byline" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By KARIM RASLAN</span></h2><b>Most Sabahans view Indonesians as just labourers or household servants, oblivious to the fact that its Borneo neighbour is one of Indonesia’s richest provinces.</b><br />
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I COMPLAIN about our politicians talking too much, but I’m becoming just as much a culprit. I seem to be delivering speeches all the time. So, first off, my apologies for being a rank hypocrite.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, last week, I was in Kota Kinabalu chairing a session on the business opportunities that exist between Sabah and the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan.<br />
<br />
I had been invited (along with some Indonesian guests) by the government agency Sedia, which runs the Sabah Development Corridor.<br />
<br />
While the talk was lively, I was struck once again by how little Malaysians know about Indonesia. Whereas all the Indonesians present had visited Kota Kinabalu, very few of the Sabahans had any idea about Indonesian locales like the East Kalimantan oil and gas hub of Balikpapan or the provincial capital of Samarinda.<br />
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Most Malaysian businessmen are far too obsessed with Jakarta.<br />
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At the same time, they tend to rely on the support of powerful political figures.<br />
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Sabahans also tend to think of themselves as being very isolated.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I’ve always felt that the “Land Below the Wind” is well placed to become a superb hub for the eastern archipelago, encompassing Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Mindanao and the Maluku islands.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, most Sabahans view Indonesians as sources of labour.<br />
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Issues of illegal immigration have complicated matters further, making Sabahans very wary when dealing with Indonesia.<br />
<br />
Yet, East Kalimantan, Sabah’s immediate neighbour, is one of the republic’s richest provinces.<br />
<br />
With a GDP of over US$28bil (RM90bil) and a population of three million, it also has the highest GDP per capita in the republic – US$8,500 (RM27,289) to US$9,000 (RM28,895).<br />
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These startling figures reflect the province’s vast natural resources: coal, oil palm, petroleum and gas.<br />
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Moreover, the province’s largest cities – Balikpapan and Samarinda (both with populations of over 650,000) – are booming metropolises.<br />
<br />
Indeed, Samarinda has become a mini “Ruhr-on-the-Mahakam” with unbelievable amounts of coal being mined within the city limits.<br />
<br />
Decentralisation policies have been a game-changer in Indonesia. Jakarta no longer dominates the provinces. Indeed, there is no one key to doing business in the republic.<br />
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Moreover, as Malaysian oil palm planters know, the provinces (especially those on the resource-rich islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra) offer enormous opportunities.<br />
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Indonesians are also accumulating real spending power. For example, Balikpapan’s wealthy inhabitants travel regularly to Jakarta (there are over 15 flights daily) and Surabaya (another 12 daily).<br />
<br />
While there are flights to Singapore, there are none to either Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu.<br />
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This is because most of East Kalimantan’s inhabitants don’t yet realise that Kota Kinabalu is such a pleasant and liveable city.<br />
<br />
The lack of a direct flight is a major hurdle. The fact that this situation persists even though Indonesia is the largest source of visitors to Sabah is doubly ironic.<br />
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Still, this situation may change soon. Irene Charuruks, Sabah’s feisty Tourism Promotion chief disclosed in the Sedia event that direct flights between Sabah and Eastern Indonesia are being planned – hopefully to take off by the end of the year.<br />
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Sabah stands to gain tremendously if it can tap East Kalimantan’s economy.<br />
<br />
By way of comparison, Penang has benefited enormously by leveraging off North Sumatra’s growth.<br />
<br />
Indeed, it is estimated that Penang’s private hospitals derive some 30%-40% of their bed occupancy from Indonesians. The same goes for property and private education.<br />
<br />
But the strongest indication I had of the rich potential that exists in linking Sabah with Kalimantan was when I chatted with one of my fellow Sedia guests, Pak Zainal Muttaqin.<br />
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Unlike most journalists, Pak Zainal was a man of few words.<br />
<br />
Still, he thoroughly enjoyed himself in KK. Indeed his standard retort – said with a tell-tale twinkle in his eye – was “sikit sikit, boleh-lah, Pak Karim”.<br />
<br />
However, his small build and humble style is entirely deceptive.<br />
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As a director of one of Indonesia’s largest media organisations, the Jawa Pos Group (with a combined daily circulation of well over 1.5 million newspapers), the Balikpapan-based Pak Zainal is also a savvy businessman.<br />
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Having not visited Kota Kinabalu for many years, Pak Zainal was very impressed by the city’s progress.<br />
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He believes his compatriots will enjoy the city’s safe and friendly ambience – its many restaurants, cafes, shops, beaches as well as Mount Kinabalu looming behind the city.<br />
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Indeed, he kept saying how lengkap (complete) the city was with all its amenities.<br />
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Still, there are many misconceptions that separate us from our neighbours and while formal meetings and bilateral agreements are important, we need greater trust and fellowship to bring us together.<br />
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In this respect, credit is due to Sedia and it’s CEO Datuk Dr Yaakub Johari for convening the session and helping to create a bridge of understanding.<br />
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It will take time, energy (and direct flights) to develop it further, and I’m very honoured to have been involved, albeit in a small (and noisy) manner.<br />
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Indeed, I’ll be continuing in similar fashion this week as I’ve been invited by a number of financial institutions to speak on Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur.<br />
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As Pak Zainal would say, “sikit, sikit boleh-lah”.<br />
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Source: The Star (The Allure of East Kalimantan)<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=aef7daeb-349b-471d-a653-21765f6210ac" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-43844630440671556402010-12-04T20:25:00.000+07:002010-12-04T20:25:44.933+07:00Indonesian tycoons ready to invest in Malaysia<b>FROM JAKARTA - ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD</b><br />
<br />
INDONESIAN billionaires are ready to make Malaysia their prime investment destination after being assured by the Government they will not face any obstacles.<br />
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The billionaires, led by the influential entrepreneur Chairul Tanjung, indicated they were ready to come to Malaysia as early as next year.<br />
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“Funds are not an issue to us. All we need are the opportunities and commitment from Malaysia which I am very happy to say we are seeing now,” he said in joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin here yesterday.<br />
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Muhyiddin had earlier met Chairul and a group of Indonesian billionaires at Chairul’s office at Bank Mega tower.<br />
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Among the billionaires who attended the meeting were Djarum president/director Robert Budi Hartono and Ciputra president Ir Ciputra.<br />
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Forbes magazine ranks Chairul as Indonesia’s seventh richest man with a net asset worth US$1bil, mainly through his Para Group.<br />
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The Para Group’s assets include a TV station, shopping complexes and banking services. Chairul is also chairman of Indonesia’ national investment committee.<br />
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Chairul said among the sectors they were keen to invest in were healthcare and infrastructure.<br />
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“We are looking at Kuala Lumpur and Johor to invest in,” he said.<br />
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Muhyiddin said the Government was ready to offer incentives to suit the Indonesian businessmen’s requirements.<br />
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“I told them that they could see me directly should they face any difficulty.“They also have my assurance that their applications would be approved in the shortest time possible,” he said.<br />
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Muhyiddin described the interest by the Indonesian tycoons as a new era in bilateral trade between both countries.<br />
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He said Indonesian investors had skipped Malaysia due to the perception that the country was off limits to them.<br />
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“I am happy to say that the perception has been corrected with this meeting,” he said.<br />
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Source: The Star<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d39bb8d1-bdb0-48b8-991b-4ab6b5545d7a" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-14729645423369555802010-12-04T20:11:00.000+07:002010-12-04T20:11:01.450+07:00Yong: Sabah govt in denial over povertyBy Queville To<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: The poor in Sabah may have just got a little poorer following the nationwide hike in petrol and sugar prices. But the state government is in denial and claims that "all is well."<br />
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Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee, however, is demanding that the government “show us the real numbers” to substantiate its claims that poverty is not a serious problem in Sabah.<br />
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Yong said that if the government used real facts and figures ,the truth would be out.<br />
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“Chief Minister (Musa Aman), like other ministers recently, again cited the so-called e-Kasih data to put the number of hardcore poor household heads (KIRMT) at only 7,455.<br />
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“In fact, on the ground, 'e-Kasih' has already been discredited as being 'p-Kasih' meaning 'pilih kasih' (favouritism) because e-Kasih involves cash handouts to selected persons.<br />
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"Not all poor people are registered under e-Kasih. Any grassroots leader who walks around a poor village will come across many hardcore poor villagers who say they have been excluded from the e-Kasih programme,” said Yong, a former chief minister.<br />
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He also questioned the validity of Musa’s recent statement that the number of poor families in Sabah is 24,247.<br />
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Musa's disclosure was in striking contrast with a World Bank report on poverty in Malaysia, which stated that 40% of the nation’s poor lived in Sabah. Sabah, the report noted, was the poorest state in the country.<br />
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“According to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (Noh Omar) recently, 150,000 families in Malaysia received rice subsidy coupons worth RM10 each every month. Obviously, these are poor families.<br />
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“If 40% of these families are in Sabah, it gives us a figure of 60,000 such families. Even if the figures by Noh or the World Bank are not 100% accurate, the figure is way above 24,247.<br />
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"The Ninth Malaysia Plan mid-term report by the federal Economic Planning Unit listed Sabah as the poorest state, with a 23% poverty level, the highest in Malaysia. These are hard facts,” he said.<br />
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Baseless claims<br />
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Yong said that Musa and his ministers should stop making baseless claims that poverty in Sabah is not as bad as it really is.<br />
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He urged the relevant authorities to make public the latest data used to calculate the poverty line by which a family is classified as poor, in view of the increase in cost of living in Sabah.<br />
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“What is the poverty line income for a family of five in the rural and urban areas? Has this poverty line taken into consideration the latest increases in prices of basic necessities?<br />
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“Every villager knows that the costs of goods and transport have gone up repeatedly in the last two years, starting with the drastic fuel increases in June 2008,” he said.<br />
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"In some remote regions like Banggi, the so-called fuel subsidy scheme to transport rice, sugar and other necessities to keep prices low has collapsed when the budget for fuel was exhausted last month.<br />
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"Even the 20-sen plastic tubes of cooking oil, sugar and other basic necessities in Sandakan villages have shrunk in size.<br />
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“The lack of teachers and doctors, piped water and housing, and problems of the landless and infant mortality rate, compound the misery faced by the poor in Sabah,” he said.<br />
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Yong said that unlike in many countries and societies where education has helped pluck poor family out of the poverty cycle, the education system in Malaysia had failed the younger generation by producing many illiterate school leavers with little skills.<br />
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“In the past, families at least had their children who earned some income to sustain the families.<br />
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“The over-reliance on foreign workers has aggravated manpower planning and low productivity in the workforce.<br />
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"These are the issues that the World Bank had identified but the BN politicians have chosen to brush aside these inconvenient truths,” he said.<br />
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He added that the state government, instead of going into denial and finding excuses for poverty in the state, should be expediting poverty reduction programmes.<br />
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The BN state government, he said, should demand more aid and favourable policies from the federal government "to spur economic growth, reduce costs of doing business in Sabah, assist local workers and alleviate youth unemployment”.<br />
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Source: Free Malaysia Today<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=09005185-f7e4-41cf-ba46-d136fb79eb0d" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250177654911611986.post-59908255390630763992010-12-04T20:08:00.000+07:002010-12-04T20:08:57.972+07:00Welcome to Malaysia - the land of the doublespeakDinesweri Puspanadan, Malaysia Chronicle<br />
<br />
It's amusing to see UMNO is barking about 'Ketuanan Raja'. Don't you think UMNO should flip through history. Who was the one who withdrew the Sultan's power? Welcome to Malaysia!<br />
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MIC is busy bashing Selangor state government for being racist for denying Indian students rights for Selangor state scholarship. Ironically, what MIC has been doing for past 52 years when every year UMNO denies PSD scholarship for many excellent Indian students?-Welcome to Malaysia!<br />
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UMNO has been championing 'Ketuanan Melayu' for ages, yet 96 percent of poor are Malays- Welcome to Malaysia.<br />
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Police force is indulging in 'trigger-happy acts'. Fatal shootings involving minors and innocent civilians is rampant, yet Home Minister claims that we are 'safe' - again, Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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Those who should set a good example and educate the younger generation are spreading racial slurs. However, when complaints are lodged against them, the tables are turned against the complainants. Deputy Minister of Eduction reprimands them lightly', while on the other side, PM is sending a 'strict warning' against extremists? Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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Luxury summits, conferences, and forums are organized without fail but when it comes to action, everything also fails. Public money is wasted to boost some individuals' public relation. Welcome to Malaysia.<br />
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Efficient PEMANDU introduces NKEA, ETP, NKRA, KPI and etc but no database has been set up to date to prove the efficiency of those plans. All remains beautifully on white pieces of paper. Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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Attorney General is hiding relevant documents from the defendant in Sodomy II, but PM claims that Anwar is getting a fair trial despite a slew of international calls to drop the case. Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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Parliament's roof is leaking and a 'Prophet' pointed out that it is an act of God. Horrifying accidents occured in the past few months and flash floods hit some states recently. Are these also acts of God? Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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They can't even admire a satirical piece yet they plan for some big nuclear thingy and charcoal plants. Welcome to Malaysia.<br />
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There are families saving and scrimping to try to make ends meet while SYABAS's CEO is comfortably receiving RM425K salary every month. Welcome to Malaysia<br />
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Malaysians' grouses about poor public transport fell on deaf ears but when a YB tried using public transport and ended up going to Parliament by foot after his trial failed, he was highlighted in a mainstream media. Welcome to Malaysia.<br />
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Technically Malaysia is in recession and every Malaysian with average knowledge is aware about this. Yet, it is surprising that some dim-witted people fail to see how Warisan Merdeka could be disastrous. Especially when KLCC is not fully occupied still.<br />
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First Lady is preaching about rescuing children from poverty as poverty will rob their basic rights to education. On the other hand, taxes on luxuries items are removed. Are you able to make sense of this? If you know what I mean that is, but welcome to Malaysia!<br />
<br />
Warts and all Malaysia is our 'unique' country. In Malaysia, we do not go for quality but follow the majority. Some think that we are we are dim-witted. We are ignorant, yet we dream to be astronauts. But an astronaut must be a genuine one who really makes it to the moon or bring back valuable scientific specimens for testing. And not 'wayang wayang' - if you know what I mean.<br />
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But, welcome to Malaysia! <br />
<br />
Source: Malaysia Chronicle<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d9caca6d-76b3-42ce-9ab0-a0efec4d4bc4" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a></div>Mans™http://www.blogger.com/profile/12256336459763898873noreply@blogger.com0