Larry,
Hi, interestingly enough, I could not find the article in today's print version of the WSJ, but was able to find it in the interactive edition.
I don't think the situation in Batam is going to get out of hand. From what I can remember, it is pretty much a "resticted zone" for Indonesians in the sense that they can not get to and from the island freely. This is because the Indonesia govt wanted to ensure a stable supply of labor in Batam, where wages are typically higher than other parts of Indonesia.
The projects in Batam were conceived by the two govts on the basis of "Singapore management expertise" and a cheap and plentiful supply of labor from Indonesia.
If the situation in Batam ever gets out of hand, Singapore would simply seal off the ferry border crossing, and repatriate all Singaporeans. On Singapore itself, there is little chance of ethnic tensions getting out of hand, simply because all Singaporeans are relatively better off than any of their ethnic counterparts elsewhere in Asia.
The worst scenario for Singapore in the case of Batam would be simply a good investment gone bad.
Just my personal opinion. Perhaps those of you closer to the action may shed a more accurate perspective on this.
Rgds,
Steve Yeo |
