Unearthing Indonesia’s Diversity

Incorporating 17,000 tropical islands, Indonesia is one of the world’s richest areas of biodiversity. Over half of this biodiversity remains unrecorded with only 20 of the more than 400 regencies in the country recording species.

It is estimated that as many as 300,000 animal species are inhabit its many ecosystems. This equates to 17% of worldwide fauna species, these across only 1.3% of the world’s landmass. With 515 species, Indonesia has more species of mammal than any other nation. There are 1539 bird species and 50% of all the world’s fish species can be found in its marine and freshwater systems.

Few years ago, scientist from several countries found ‘the lost world’ where new species were discovered. Amazingly, those animal had never been known nor even recorded in any literature. GNFI had previously posted the stories about this matter.

We found another discovery of new species in the Kalimantan jungle.The discovery of four new species of spider in Kalimantan was announced yesterda, adding to the country’s already rich catalog of fauna.

The four new species of whip spiders, or tailless whip scorpions, known here as kala cemeti , were found in the Sangkulirang caves in East Kalimantan and around Mount Muller in Central Kalimantan.

One of the species was named Sarax yayukae, in honor of Yayuk R. Suhardjono, an Indonesian scientist specializing in cave biology who helped the researchers during their work.

Sarax sangkulirangensis was found to be the most widespread of the new species, existing in three regions — Talabar, Lake Tebo and Pengadan.

Sarax mardua, which was found in Mardua Cave in Pengadan, has a pale-colored body and eyes that are smaller than those of Sarax sangkulirangensis.

The last of the new species, Sarax cavernicola, got its name because it is found only in caves.

It is considered the most unique of the new species because the spine composition on its pincers are all the same length, while other whip spiders have gradually longer spines.

Cahyo warned that three of the species endemic to the limestone regions of Sangkulirang were threatened by human activity, including mining and land redevelopment.

Source :

The Jakarta Globe

Mongabay.com

Tempointeraktif.com

Kaskus.us

Indonesia in Global Radar

Indonesia named one of top ten global investment targets

Indonesia has been identified as one of the top markets for global investors, according to new research published by UK Trade & Investment. The ‘Great Expectations: Doing business in emerging markets’ report offers new insights from international investors about which markets they see as being the global growth engines of the future. The report is based on a survey of more than 520 global executives from every sector.

All respondents are already doing business in emerging markets or plan to do so in the next two years. “The balance of global power is shifting and this is recognised in UK Trade & Investment’s research. Markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, Argentina, etc is tipped to be one of the global growth engines in the coming decades.

UK firms are using their expertise to help promote that growth,” the UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said, while launching the new research in London. Meawnhile, Deputy Head of Mission of British Embassy Jakarta Rebecca Razavi said he was very pleased to hear that Indonesia was named as one of the top markets for global investors this year.

“As the largest economy in SE Asia and as a member of G20, Indonesia has an increasingly important role on the world stage, and is a key trade and investment partner for the UK. This encouraging report by the UK Trade and Investment is another example of the positive view global investors have of Indonesia’s potential to grow stronger as an emerging market in this region. And the UK is fully committed to work with the Indonesian government to help make that happen,” Razavi said as quoted by the British embassy in Jakarta website

Key findings include: Emerging markets are viewed as sources of new consumer demand. 76% of investors see emerging markets as a source of new business growth. Only one quarter of companies intend to rely on their existing products and services in emerging markets. Most companies intend to customise their offerings for new markets.

Indonesia has been selected as number two investment destination, beyond the BRICs, for 2010. The top three markets for investors in the next two years are China (20%), Vietnam (19%), India (18%). 71% of respondents agreed that emerging markets beyond the BRIC countries collectively offer an opportunity too big to ignore. Companies are now prioritising a range of other countries alongside their well-established operations in the BRIC countries. For many firms, emerging markets are increasingly familiar places.

Nearly half of the respondents have been operating in one or more emerging markets for at least a decade and two thirds have been there for six years or more. Institutional knowledge of these countries is far higher than it was at the turn of the century. Far more executives believe that the potential rewards far outstrip the risks within both the BRIC countries and other emerging markets. 52% expect growth prospects for their once-risky emerging markets business to be “significantly better” over the next two years. Local companies in emerging markets are sought after for partnerships and alliances.

Despite a greater ease with the risks of new places, the need to tap into local knowledge and contacts quickly remains strong.

(The Jakarta Post)

Shining In NYC

Few Indonesian-born fashion designers have achieved what Farah Angsana has on the international stage. Farah has successfully established her self-named brand in Switzerland and in the fashion capitals of Paris, Milan and New York. Her buyers include luxury department stores like Neimann Marcus and soon, Bergdorf Goodman.

Along with 90 of the world’s best established and up-and-coming designers, Farah, 39, recently showcased her Spring and Summer 2011 couture collection during the prestigious New York Fashion Week held on Sept. 9-16 at the Lincoln Center.

This is not Farah’s first fashion show nor will it be her last. With Fashion Week barely over, the designer, who divides her time between Paris and New York, is already busy preparing for more shows, one of which is a bridal event in New York next month.

The Jakarta Globe recently caught up with Farah at the Surrey Hotel in Manhattan. During the hour-long conversation with her, she talked about her recent collection, her road to success and her observations about fashion in Indonesia. Here are excerpts from the interview.

What inspired your collection for New York Fashion Week?

My theme this season is exotic Indonesia. I’ve always loved my own country. I’m not an ethnic designer, but I just want to bring out a little bit of Indonesia and introduce my country to the world.

There’s a lot of traditional and ethnic elements [in Indonesia] and I’d like to explore that. Blending Indonesian and Western themes [must be done] carefully and nicely. Not everyone, for example, can wear batik.

But if you know how to do it well, [by making it into] a cocktail dress, for example, it becomes wearable. You can change the color and make it [into a] more modern, Westernized outfit. It’ll look just like a printed flower dress.

The “It” dress [as labeled by the media] was one made from sarong kebaya [used during Indonesian] weddings.

I thought it was a beautiful silhouette and I [created it into] a dress and not something to be worn just in Indonesia. I wanted to translate that more to European wear.

You are one of few Indonesian designers to go international and the first and only Indonesian to ever take part in haute couture fashion shows in Paris and New York. Why do you think that there are not more Indonesian designers who have had the same success?

I’m just lucky, hard working and passionate.

When I was very young, my dream was to become the first Indonesian designer to go international. I achieved my dream.

But success? Success is still a long way away. I am not successful; I am just achieving my childhood dream.

I have achieved certain things in my career life, when I show my collection in Paris, London, Milan, New York. But [I’ll only] be successful when my company gets sold to the public and when I retire at the peak [of my career].

You are clearly at the highest point of your career so far. Does the limelight overshadow the more trying moments that have shaped you to become who you are today?

When I changed from a couture designer to menswear, I didn’t have any order for two years … I was wrongly influenced by my press office in Paris and the people around me [who were] telling me what to do. I lost the sense of Farah Angsana.

Studying in Paris was a wrong step for me, but I never regretted my four years there. There, I learned so much about how to mold a cloth to a dress and I learned the meaning of luxury products and couture, [where] every single quality or feeling comes into one clothing.

London is where I learned the basics and Paris gave me the opportunity to learn and to grow to [become] a designer.

Milan was the place I started to see buyers and New York is the place where I explore all my experience for the past 12 years. It is the best platform of all — America is very open and has given me lots of opportunity to grow [and] to show my work.

Your experience in each country must have exposed you to their different markets and made you a versatile designer. How is fashion in Paris and New York different?

Each country is a different ball game. [American fashion] is more wearable and people are more body conscious — they want to look thinner. In Europe, women want to look stylish and trendy.

[European women] don’t care if you have a huge flower on your shoulder or huge, bulky ruffles on your tummy as long as it looks stylish.

What about Indonesian fashion?

I’ve never designed in Indonesia, but it is another world of its own.

There [are] a lot of variety of women — sexy, elegant, madame [types]. It’s very extreme because it is a society that is still exploring fashion.

Indonesians are very stylish. They love fashion and they are the most fashion forward, up-to-date about fashion and brands … Indonesia may not be as progressive as Singapore, but the majority of [Singapore’s] buyers are from Indonesia.

What I have to point out is that the Indonesian society should buy luxury products in Indonesia [instead of buying outside Indonesia in places like Paris] to help the Indonesian economy.

This includes foreign companies like Dior, Valentino and all the luxury products based in Indonesia.

Source: The Jakarta Globe

Indonesian Universities Finally Reach the Big League

Two Indonesian universities have finally broken into the top 100 of the best universities in the world in certain subjects.

The University of Indonesia is ranked 95th in the Social Sciences category of the 2010 QS World University Rankings, one of the leading lists of schools.

Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is the next best Indonesian school in the category, at number 131, followed by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Surabaya’s Airlangga University, and the University of Brawijaya in Malang.

In the Technology and Engineering category, ITB made it into the top 100, coming in at 93. ITB was also the highest-ranked Indonesian university in the Natural Sciences category, while UI led the others in the Arts and Humanities, as well as Life Sciences and Medicine.

The QS World University Rankings’ subject-based tables are based on an academic survey completed by more than 15,000 academics, including 700 university leaders.

They are asked to identify the universities producing the best research in their own field of knowledge and within their region of expertise.

QS says the overall rankings also take into account employer reputation, research and teaching, and international commitment.

Nunzio Quacquarelli,? the managing director of QS, said the growing number of countries represented in the top 500 list “demonstrates the highly competitive environment of global higher education.”

Harvard University, which topped last year’s rankings, is second this year, pipped by Cambridge, last year’s runner-up.

Yale University is third, while the University College London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology round out the top five.

(The Jakarta Globe)

“One Asian Country Whose Rise Will Change Our World Dramatically”

A relationship in need of a rethink

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to challenge the assertion this will be the Asian century. We seem to be content to predict that Asian societies will become more wealthy and powerful and leave it at that, not bothering to think through what the implications of this might be.

A big part of the explanation for this, I think, is people have predicted the rise of Asia since the 1960s, but not much has changed. Asia has risen astoundingly quickly, but we’re still wealthy and the Americans are still powerful; the Japanese, South Koreans and Chinese are buying more and more of our wheat and minerals; and south-east Asia is still a cheap and accessible spot for a holiday.

There is one Asian country whose rise will change our world dramatically: Indonesia. There has always been a streak of paranoia about Indonesia in our public mind; it seems to epitomise all our fears about crowded, poor Asian societies poised to overrun our wealthy but sparsely populated continent. For decades it was, for some, the model of an Asian dictatorship, and more recently it has come to symbolise the face of violent Islam for many Australians. But there is also a tendency not to take Indonesia too seriously. A neighbour of its size and location should be a big preoccupation, but most Australians tend to look over it to the great powers of the northern Pacific.

It could be argued this is justified. Indonesia’s economy is just over half the size of ours, and its military budget is less than a quarter. It has historically been internally focused and without a strong voice internationally. Indonesia has had an international footprint appropriate to a country one-tenth its size.

This situation will almost certainly change within the next decade. The Indonesian economy has been growing strongly for most of this century and most economists are optimistic that it will continue for some time. If we extrapolate current growth rates for the Australian and Indonesian economies, ours will be the smaller economy within a decade. Our population will be less than one-tenth of the size of Indonesia’s projected 254 million people.

If Indonesia’s military spending grows in proportion to its economic growth, it will not surpass our defence budget (assuming ours grows in proportion to our economic growth) until 2048. But Indonesia’s defence spending may well grow faster. Its northern shores are lapped by the South China Sea, a realm of growing military tensions between China and the countries of south-east Asia.

As the US, China, Japan and India jockey for bases and positioning in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the Indonesian archipelago will become a strategic fulcrum for that competition. The US and Japan, which worry about China’s growing might, are likely to begin investing in the defence capabilities of Indonesia, a large regional country with a traditional ambivalence about China. And as democracy stabilises in Indonesia, it will become less worried about its internal order and more interested in the world beyond the archipelago.

All this means that in a startlingly short period of time, Australia will for the first time in its history have a more powerful neighbour. This will represent the most profound wrench to our geostrategic situation since the decolonisation of Asia 60 years ago. It will mean there will be no relationship as important to us as that with Jakarta.

We will have a significant stake in its internal political dynamics, hoping that a president hostile, or even indifferent, to our interests does not come to pass.

But even a stable, dynamic Indonesia with a close relationship with Australia will present its own challenges. One will be to our sense of our importance in the world. A stable, strong and internationally engaged Indonesia will have the capacity to contribute to order in our region in a way that would make Australia’s contributions largely irrelevant. A powerful Indonesia would guarantee our security implicitly because, just as Canada is essential to the northern approaches to the US, so we would be crucial to Indonesia’s southern approaches. We would be in the same situation as New Zealand is in now, with little incentive to invest in serious military capabilities. This might yield a tidy “peace dividend”, but would be a blow to our sense of importance to the regional order.

Another challenge will be that a powerful, western-leaning Indonesia will pose profound questions about our relationship with the US. Washington will pay a lot more attention to a strong Indonesia than it does now, especially in the context of a growing rivalry with China. If so, it is almost inevitable our importance to the Americans will decline, just as our resentments will rise if Washington helps build Indonesian strength through arms sales, technology transfers, and training. In this sense, Indonesia has far more potential to disturb the Australia-US alliance than China does.

A powerful Indonesia will also shake us out of our complacency about Asia. New Zealand and Canada are in a comfortable place because they share the same culture and language as their more powerful neighbour; they understand them implicitly and when push comes to shove, know which levers to pull to get it to see things more their way. This is a skill that extends way beyond their diplomats to all sections and levels of society.

Our capacity to understand Indonesia, to speak its language, and to understand what makes it tick has been in decline for decades. We are a long way from being ready to deal with the Indonesia of the 2020s. It is time to stop obsessing about minor issues like asylum seekers and face up to the big challenges that are just around the corner.

Michael Wesley is executive director of the Lowy Institute.

Source: smh.com.au

More Iron Birds Above Indonesia

Russia will deliver the last of six contracted SU fighter jets to Indonesia on September 7 and 16, an informed source said on Monday.

Under a $300 million contract, signed in 2007, Russia is to complete the delivery of three SU-30MK2 and three SU-27SKM fighters to Jakarta by the end of 2010 in addition to two SU-27SK and two SU-30MK fighters purchased in 2003.

The third SU-30MK2 jet was delivered in January.

Russia’s An-124 transport plane will deliver two SU-27SKM planes to the air base in the city of Makassar in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province on Tuesday, the source said. The other SU-27SKM plane will be delivered to the same base five days later.

The planes will be sent to Indonesia earlier than scheduled following a request by the Indonesian military authorities, who would like the aircraft to take part in a military parade dedicated to Armed Forces Day on October 5, he added.

Indonesia earlier said it needed at least one squadron equipped with 16 Sukhoi fighters to replace part of the outdated fleet of U.S. F-16 fighters.

Now, These Are Your Dreams of Indonesia

As promised earlier, now we are posting some of your dreams for Indonesia in the future, with some minor edits to the typing. We are sorry we cant include all dreams you submitted via twitter @GNFI or email goodnewsfromindonesia@ymail.com, you may resubmit them again and we will post em into the next entry(ies).

Here are your dreams:
1. PH_Alerts
I dream of no more traffic jam in Jakarta as we have already the MRT’s and its fastest vehicle/train http://bit.ly/cOqhzz.

2. ariespurwo

I dream of Indonesians to be the top leader in world biggest companies.

I dream that UN will always waiting for our advice before release new policy or resolution.

I dream of no more traffic jam in Jakarta as we have already the MRT’s and its fastest vehicle/train.

I dream of no more beggars, and zakat is administered properly to alleviate poverty.

3. tasialarosa

I dream of Indonesian language being taught in universities around the world as one of important languages alongside w/ Japanese & French.

4. Rossantoy

I want people around the world to recognize our culture,cuisine,crafts,dances,songs, so they’d say in amazement “This Has To Be Indonesian!”

5. mtaufanrp

My dreams of Indonesia, led by a great leader, who could bring smiles to every face of Indonesian; that’s the root of my every dream.

6.Ameliasimbolon

Indonesian tourism industry will be the largest source of fore reserve, and it is very popular worldwide.

7. carissayufita

My dream is Indonesia enters and hosts the World Cup.

9. BenyYusron

Indonesia will be a corruption-free country.

10. AyoEHere

My dream is for Indonesia to have MRT facilities and admission-free toll road.

11. alainbunjamin

I dream of no discrimination against any race,tribe,ethnic, religion,soc class, realization of freedom in expressing thoughts n opinions.

12. jacobbashay

Indonesia to become world’s largest food exporter country.

13. ariespurwo

I dream of Mandiri will be the world number one competitor for Citibank.

14. meatid

Indonesia will be one of the best education destination for international students.

15. yuliatweets

My dream: waking up every morning watching a blue sky above Jkt (i.e. a pollution-free country ).

16. My Dreams of Indonesia – Dian Harigelita Mochtar

I dream of an Indonesia, where every district has its own library.
I dream of an Indonesia, where the well-being of teachers are looked after by the government.
I dream of an Indonesia, where children are taught first to love Indonesia.
Finally, I dream of an Indonesia that realizes it is a people of hope, struggle, togetherness, laughter, pride, respect, faith, justice, and freedom.

16. Fuad_fufu_Helmi

My biggest dream is for Indonesia to have a walk of fame like in Hollywood so we know that we also have legends.

17. yotowordpress

I dream of all mining company in Indonesia are owned and managed by Indonesian people.

18. lucianancy

I hope Indonesia have MANY proper school buildings for all children instead of ONE magnificent building for House of Representatives.

19.ivan_patra06

I have a dream, someday a railway is built across the archipelago, connecting every provinces in Indonesia.

20.biyasbayu

My dream of Indonesia is so simple, I really want Indonesia without corruptor, and want to see FIFA World Cup trophy in our hand.

21. amuliaw

I dream, if people in the world know ‘Indonesia’ better than ‘Bali’, not the opposite like today…

22. goe_gun

I wanna have trustworthy senators in the House of Representatives who love people they represent than their own.

23. fisazahra

My dream is, Indonesia has many teachers to make their students feel happy to go to school to study!

24.haryoseptoria

Develop agro techno in central Java region to create an autonomous community based on resources they have.

25. nhafiasara

Starbuck use Indonesian coffee and consumers aware of its distinctive classy aroma.

26. nhafiasara

Indonesians would be well aware of the needs to be a part of modern society w/ zillion tolerance n high dignity without harmless pride.

27. Sauqina

Indonesia to become center of education where students from around the world study in Indonesian schools and universities.

28. luly_joenoes

Security for it’s people on basic need such as food, health, education & the future.

29. halloarie

Indonesia has cutting-edge expertise in agriculture, farming and fisheries, this will propel the growth.

30.Tia_aja

Indonesia to resume the spirit of Gotong Royong (collective works) and Musyawarah untuk Mufakat (compromise) to restore the national identity and dignity.

We have the honor to share with you someone who left his comment to our last entry.

He is Mr. Abdul Jalil:

Dear Mr. Akhyari Hananto,

Let me applause for what you have written above, as I read them, everything is just like silent as I focused on every single words you put there…

I found some unusual words because of my vocabularies are lack, BUT still, I could catch the whole meaning of this writing, it’s just a very nice reading and it motivates me a lot to do something or at least to love my country more

As what u wrote, I do agree that Indonesia has miles changed and it’s no longer become a country that can be really proud of, with all those internal problems still I cannot ensure myself to see Indonesia comes back as what it was or become even better…

When you mentioned about your past memories, I also recalled some of the sweetest memories of my young, though I was not from well-off family but at that I was very reach with smiling, no burden, affection from parents and relatives and many others things…

You have nice dreams to this beloved country and I believe that lots people out there are also dreaming of the same things So from this comment, personally, I want to say that it is a very good news to hear that there are still people like you who are still dreaming and expecting for Better Indonesia and I do hope to hear more and more from you and any other Indonesian in order to keep me motivated day by day! Nice to read your writing

Best regards,
Abdul Jalil

Thank you all for your dreams will keep us moving to become a better nation!

(Akhyari Hananto)

Indonesia And Its Massive Revolution

Fast-growing economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and Indonesia will drive a “massive digital revolution” in coming years as disposable incomes increase, a study released Wednesday suggested.

The Boston Consulting Group said more than 610 million people in the “BRICI” markets currently use the Internet regularly but that will grow to 1.2 billion by 2015 — over three times more than the United States and Japan combined.

Annual growth will be between nine to 20 percent, driven predominantly by young users who “will form the digital-market eco-systems that will be in place for generations to come”, the US-based management consulting firm said.

“Right now, 60 percent of BRICI Internet users are under the age of 35,” said the report, entitled “The Internet’s New Billion”.

“As they earn even higher incomes and develop more complex online needs, there will be a colossal opportunity for digital companies to monetise services and products.

“Those companies that manage to do so will reap the tremendous benefits of this massive digital revolution.”

The study highlighted wide-ranging differences in the ownership of personal computers in the five countries, from five percent in India and Indonesia to 20 percent in China and about 32 percent in Brazil and Russia.

But while it suggested that Brazil and Russia would see a far greater take-up of PCs in the next five years, Internet users in other countries could skip the PC ownership stage and move straight into the mobile Internet market.

Mobile phone ownership is already high in BRICI countries, making web-enabled smartphones a potential growth area as networks expand.

Source: AFP

My Dreams Of Indonesia

You, me, all of us, wanna Indonesia to become a respectable power in the world, Indonesia certainly has a very rich past. It was because of its richness, Indonesia was prone to invasion of other countries innumerable times, and its wealth was plundered.

It is also world’s most diverse country. There is not a single country in this world with so much diversity. I am still aware of many mysteries and I am sure my whole life won’t be sufficient to know everything about Indonesia. Indonesia is my country, and I am proud to be Indonesian, so very proud.

I was born in a village called Wonosalam, at the slope of Merapi mountain in the north of Yogyakarta town. I can still clearly recall how simbok simbok (elderly women) walking for long in the mist of a dawn going to traditional market, selling vegetables, eggs, or kerupung. I can still recall I went to Kuning river and jumped on river stones and into the fast-flowing clear water. I can still recall my village was surrounded by green paddy field, I can still recall cows and sheep were released freely to on the farm, i can still recall, people were laughing, smiling, joking, talking about how good Indonesia was. I can still recall people in my village always working collectively to build new homes, clean up roads, or to prepare community events, i can still recall many many many beautiful memories.

Now… things have changed, everything is different now. I have lost my strength to say what have changed, i can only say that we must go back to the line which will lead us to our national dream.

I was asked by a pedicab driver in Surabaya few days ago, “Do you think we can restore the good old days?”. “Certainly, we can build better new days”, I replied. As I expected, he continued by asking “HOW?”. I smiled to him, because it’d be too long to elaborate on how to develop such a big country like Indonesia.

The next day, a preacher in a mosque said to its audience that if it’s too hard to plan something, dream about it first. Aha… Dream!

My dream for my country is for it to become prosperous and peaceful and a pacesetter in all aspects of nationhood in the world. We have the resources – both human and natural – to become a great nation, if only all of us would put our minds and hearts into getting this country to where it belongs.

I dream of a peaceful and progressive country; contented smiles on people’s faces everywhere; a government free of corruption.

I wish for Indonesia to further strengthen its bilateral democratic relations with other countries; to make itself progressive in the local, national and international economies, in the United Nations, for the Indonesian economy to boost itself; for Indonesia to have a brilliant and strong government who is without the stain of corruption and will emulate high qualities of honest and quality governance, good spiritual foundation, and good visions towards prosperity; for Indonesia to reach the stature of highly-developed, highly progressive and affluent countries; and for Indonesia to emerge and become a stronger force in the whole world.

I dream of Indonesia entering World Cup.

I dream of Garuda Indonesia acquiring Qantas or British Airways.

I dream…

(Akhyari Hananto)

Karim Raslan: RI Journalists Are As Diverse As The Rest Of The Country

For a newspaper columnist, I’ve spent a lot of time over the past week in the emotionally charged world of television news.

Each of my interviewers was incredibly thorough, preparing and framing questions, discussing with producers and calming guests all at the same time. Each interview was a unique scenario.

While many outsiders tend to see media outlets as vessels that are ready to spring on the ill-prepared and foolhardy, I’ve always viewed it — especially in Indonesia — as an intensely competitive, individualistic environment. In short: You generalize at your peril.

Najwa Shihab, the host of the Metro TV current events program “Mata Najwa,” is delightful and extremely gracious. Rosianna Silalahi, formerly of SCTV, has a razor-sharp mind acutely honed toward politics.

Her new production, the “Rossy Show” on Global TV, is not for the evasive.

Meanwhile, TVOne’s Tina Talisa is indefatigable — buttonholing Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan for an interview upon meeting him.

I should add that she was also in the middle of interviewing three other guests on Indonesia-Malaysia bilateral relations.

So, Indonesian journalists are obviously as diverse as the rest of the country. They can also be pretty demanding. While they strive to put you at ease, the expectations for guests are high.

Indeed, in the background, you can sometimes see the producers and assistants shaking their heads when someone misses the point or pontificates.

Having completed four separate sessions on Indonesian television in the past few days, I have to confess that the experience was as challenging as it was enjoyable.

The reason behind my sudden exposure to the world of TV news began on Aug. 13 when three Indonesian fisheries officers were detained by Malaysian police. I had initially expected the matter to be settled amicably.

However, the timing was very unfortunate, just days before Independence Day celebrations on the 17th.

Understandably, Indonesia’s media went into overdrive and the issue quickly developed its own momentum.

In the ensuing controversy, the public became increasingly incensed at what was perceived to be a series of deliberate slights.

The first was the perceived “barter” transaction — that the Indonesian officers had been released in exchange for seven Malaysian fishermen who were detained earlier.

Subsequently, it was alleged that the Indonesian officials had been poorly treated while being detained.

In the following weeks, certain Malaysian politicians unfortunately chose to adopt aggressive tones just as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seemed to step back from taking stern action.

At the same time, Malaysians were disturbed when demonstrators threw human excrement at their country’s embassy in Jakarta and by the apparent belligerence of Indonesia’s media.

Amid this highly volatile environment — and because Malaysians were in short supply — I made my halting and ungrammatical appearances on national TV.

In the past I’ve tended to see these bilateral problems as the preserve of politicians and diplomats. However, this time around, I felt I had to add my voice to the debate.

At the same time, friends in Jakarta-based media were desperately looking for a Malaysian — any Malaysian — who could provide an alternative perspective.

So what did I learn? Well, for starters, TV, especially live TV, is about human emotions. Yes, you must be clear in what you say, but the way you say it and the reactions from your fellow guests as well as the all-important interviewer are critical.

Second, you have to remain calm, however provocative or heated the discussion might get. Equanimity is critical.

Third, when you are in someone else’s country you have to pick your words very carefully — all the more so since you’ve still got to return back to Kuala Lumpur at some stage and Malaysians, especially the government, are less tolerant of critical views in the media.

Sadly, back in Kuala Lumpur we’re still in an era similar to Suharto’s New Order — with no reformasi on the horizon.

Which brings me to the last point: namely that the vastly different political cultures of our two countries make a swift resolution of outstanding bilateral issues difficult if not impossible.

In Indonesia, media are mirrors of the nation’s complexity. In Malaysia, control and regimentation mean we often forgo our diversity in the quest for discipline. Still, one must hope that cooler heads will continue to prevail.

Karim Raslan is a columnist who divides his time between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Source: The Jakarta Globe