Forum: No recession in Indonesia

Tue, 12/02/2008 10:34 AM  |  Readers Forum

Thumbs up to Terry Lacey with his article titled "No recession in Indonesia" (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 27.)

He is one of few economists who did not jump on the bandwagon, chanting "Yes, Indonesia is in recession too".

Terry has laid out a sound and logical analysis to back his point of view. Above all, the confidence level of Indonesian consumers will determine whether Indonesia will be hit by a recession in 2009 or not.

Remember this, when too many economists and government officials worry too much, they will paint a gloomy 2009 economic outlook and the media will amplify it to the public at large. Remember bad news is good news?

It will only weaken Indonesian consumer confidence thus consumer spending and it will cause a contraction in the domestic economy, eventually dragging Indonesia into a real recession.

It starts in our mind. Do we want to buck the global financial challenges or do we just want to surrender and helplessly watch the crisis come to Indonesia? Yes, we do have a choice.
ANDOKO DARTA
Jakarta

Idul Adha

I read a photograph caption on page 4: "Islamic Sacrifice Day" (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 26).

I know qurban (Arabic) has a different meaning from kurban (sacrifice) in Bahasa.

The meaning of qurban is to get closer (to Allah) and that's what Muslims will be celebrating on Dec.8. So the "Islamic Sacrifice Day" does not fit with the day that photo means.
DENDEN FIRMAN ARIEF
Jakarta

MUI and anti-smoking laws -- Nov. 25, p. 1

Tobacco is really bad for our health because it contains nicotine which is a colorless, poisonous alkaloid (C10H14N2) used as an insecticide. It is the substance in tobacco which smokers can become addicted to.

Why not ban this tobacco industry altogether since it has poisonous ingredients in it. There is strong support under the Ulema's edict for banning Moslems from smoking.

In this poor country, we have many workers who only earn less than $1.00 a day and spend their entire wage on puffing cigarettes while leaving their infant children without milk and food.

No more cigarettes for students, workers, pregnant ladies, Muslims, government officials, minors and all citizens.

It's best to proclaim it as a dangerous drug and prohibit sales of tobacco and its distribution altogether.
IYEN
Jakarta

Indonesia should be carefully watch this tendency. The more they give a free hand to the Ulema council's rulings, the more they lose their sovereignty.

We are far away from Pancasila and the unity of Indonesia.
ANDREAS
Manado, North Sulawesi

The grip of the influential and strong tobacco industry in the government may at last be broken. This laudable initiative by the Ulema Council to push anti-smoking legislation is in fact governance by the people for the people, as good governance ought to be.

Congratulations MUI!
HENRY MANOE
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

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