Scratching Backs

Indon minister skips S'pore meet 'in protest' - TODAYonline, 6th Nov 2006

• Indonesia's Industry Minister Fahmi Idris is still upset at Singapore's decision to raise the haze issue at the United Nations General Assembly last month.
• To register his protest at the move, Mr Fahmi boycotted a meeting of the Indonesia-Singapore joint steering committee on the Batam, Bintan and Karimun special economic zones, according to Antara news agency.
• He claimed that by raising the issue before the General Assembly on Oct 20, Singapore did not uphold the spirit of cooperation among Asean member countries.

What have Indonesia done to uphold the spirit of cooperation among Asean member countries? Failing to stop the haze from spreading, declining to sign the treaty, and giving unreasonable solution when our families' and friends' health are in risk? When you don't scratch my back, why should I scratch yours?

Clearing the air - TODAYonline, 7th Oct 2006

• When Singapore called for a wider effort at the United Nations on Oct 25, Indonesia's response was testy. Its representative, Ms Adiyatwidi Adiwoso Asmady, said the move was "tantamount to interference in the domestic affairs of Indonesia".
• She added: "Where there is already a bilateral and regional arrangement for addressing a problem, let us make full use of them instead of misusing the UN forum in a frenzy of naming and shaming."
• In a letter to Mr Fahmi yesterday, Mr Mirpuri explained that Singapore raised the matter at the UN not to shame its neighbour but to mobilise the international support that was needed.
• Mr Mirpuri said that glossing over the issue of haze during a discussion on environmental issues at the UN was not an option. This would only have cost Asean its credibility.
• "Singapore's strong preference was for an Asean statement, but unfortunately the Indonesian representative did not want the haze issue mentioned at all," said Mr Mirpuri.
• "Hence, Singapore had no choice but to make the points in its own statement."

This is a fair game. If you don't do your part to protect your citizens, at least I have to do mine for my own people. If there is no shame then there is no name, why blame others when you got yourself to blame. I have not heard anything from Malaysia, I thought they always like to piggyback on current issues to attract attention, why don't they comment when it is needed the most?