Suspicion
From Indonesia
Political scientist warns: “Don’t let Singapore dominate ASEAN.” Antara.
Nov 20, 2007

Jakarta - Indonesia must be smart and not let Singapore become too dominant in ASEAN as the association is becoming stronger in the global political and economic competition, a political observer said.

Hermawan Sulistio, a political scientist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) made the statement here yesterday in response to a call by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for economic integration in ASEAN.

The Singapore prime minister asked ASEAN members to increase economic integration in the face of China`s and India`s economic advances.

Lee made the appeal one day before the opening of the 13th ASEAN summit in Singapore on November 19 and lasting until Nov 22, 2007.

The summit which also coincides with ASEAN`s 40th anniversary is being attended by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other ASEAN leaders.

Sulistio said the call should be responded to carefully because there was the question whether it was made sincerely in the common interest of all ASEAN member countries or a trick to strengthen Singapore`s position as a centre and at the same time as economic leader in ASEAN.

"Economic integration is one of Singapore`s strategic choices," he said. After all, the city-state`s economy hinged on its position as an international financial hub and port.

He admitted, however, that it was impossible (for ASEAN members) to face a big country or region such as the European Union individually.

With its strength as a regional grouping, ASEAN - in this case its members - will become stronger to face outsiders, he said.

"However, Indonesia should be smart so that Singapore will not be too dominant when ASEAN grows in strength to match the economic advances of China and India," Sulistio said. (Antara)

The warning came as Jakarta’s anti-monopoly watchdog that Temasek Holdings has violated Indonesia's anti-monopoly laws because of its cross-ownership of its two largest cellular carriers.

It ruled that Temasek must divest its stake in one of the two cellular operators - PT Telkomsel and PT Indosat - to remove its cross-ownership within two years.

(Earlier the government imposed a ban on sand exports to Singapore in an apparent effort to reduce or slow down its building, especially reclamation, projects.)

Nov 20, 2007