Archives:
February 2000
The Hari Ini column is available daily on the Asian Business Strategy & Street Intelligence Ezine home page. Sure.. go there now for more of the same. At least it's fresher...
This page contains one month of the archives.
The Hari Ini column documents off-the cuff comments, very odd spots, unsubstantiated rumours, misinterpretations, cruel innuendo, limp jokes, dodgy links, tips lacking in credibility, and other material very roughly related to Asian business, marketing, management, culture, politics, economics and why the earth is round.
Some of the items emerge into sections later on; some are contributed by email or word of mouth by friends of the forum, columnists, editorial advisors, and the Chao Phraya River Rat.
..Most of it just ends up here...
Basically it means we can at least comment on happenings that we wouldn't otherwise have the time to.
"Hari Ini" means "Today" in both Malaysian and Indonesian.
..Which means that everything on this page is already outta date...
As the masthead suggests, this column also includes all the news that doesn't fit..
It also means we can add some lightheartedness and CNN type shallowness to our otherwise more serious content. As CNN proves, such content sells...
Mostly the column just reflects the mood of the editors on the day, and gives a potted summary of key issues in the region. If you want it to reflect your mood as well, email us contributions at chiyo@apmforum.com.
Chiyo Hyiuiki (Webmaster, and on behalf of the editors)
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Kuala Lumpur: Tuesday 22nd February 2000 |
How far Singapore has come (2): Well we said it before, and it is re-inforced again. Singaporeans are the less xenophobic of 12 Asian nations, according to a survey by Hong Kong based PERC of expatriates working in the region. On the negative side, of concern was the "patronising attitude towards other South-east Asians which did little to enhance Singapore's economic integration with the rest of the region". The report also found that strong nationalism rarely resulted in complacency in Singapore. Other Asian countries which have recently played the nationalism card as a tool in ensconsing the ruling élite, have seen a resultant increase in negative attitudes to foreigners. | Two excellent new articles from McKinsey Quarterly - "A new way to market" and "Building Digital Brands". If you missed it, "An Acid Bath for Asian chemicals", an insightful analysis of the Asian chemical industry is still available. | A good brief on the new Hong Kong cyberport project, despite some infuriating meaningless nouveau-info-speak eg: a "cyber culture critical mass" | International Aerospace companies are expecting a pick up of orders from Asia, as military expenditures, mostly pruned as a cost-saving measure during the last few years, begin to rise again. Most interest of course is from East Asia - Taiwan, China, and Korea. Most South East Asian countries have no immediate external significant threats to sovereignty but a pick up in the commercial airline industry has seen buyers nosing around again. Meanwhile, Airbus, Boeing's major competitor in the long-haul commercial airline market, is targeting 50% of the Japanese market in 5 years. | A beat-up of a different kind: Malaysian mainstream newspapers, constrained in their political and economic reporting, are presently targeting violence towards foreign maids, with several high-profile incidents in the last few weeks. Such incidents are not confined to Malaysia. Western visitors to Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore in particular are always surprised to note the prevalence of maids. A consequence of the vast income differentials and importance of "face" in deeming worth here compared with Western nations, mainly Filipino and Indonesian maids work for very low wages and accommodation, while caring for babies, cooking and performing other house chores. While both host and supplier nations are generally happy with the arrangements, with economies boosted on both sides as a result, it also has it's down-side. In host countries, menial work is seen very much as the province of "foreign workers", and nationals generally see it as "beneath their dignity" to carry out such tasks. The net result is to increase the inequalities between rich and poor, as well as re-inforce a link between "worth" and country of origin. Incidents of violence are very much in the minority, with many "enlightened" employers treating their maid as "one of the family". However, violence is a subliminal means of the spoiled re-inforcing their "superiority" over others in a region where globalization is increasing the value of substance over face, causing friction as landed wealth finds their social standing increasingly challenged. | Burma/Myanmar, increasingly confident due to their membership in ASEAN, effectively guaranteeing little criticism from other South East Asian nations, is drawing attention to themselves by empowering the military to push out villagers involved in the opium trade along the border. Bit like putting the wolves in charge of the flock says the Bangkok Post. Opium profits should of course go to the government. Strongest proponents of ASEAN's non-interference policy, Malaysia, are Burma/Myanmar's fourth largest investor. According to the Malaysian opposition paper Harakah - "Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, said he held "...productive talks" with Burma's military rulers on ways to step up investment. He said Burma favoured Malaysian investments due to the close ties between Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the military rulers..."
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Kuala Lumpur: Thursday 17th February 2000 |
Hari Ini Blasted! Despite our repeated assurances that this humble column should never be taken seriously, from under the coward's cloak of anonymity one poster on the discussion forum decided to take it on himself/herself to blast the assumed author's nationality, residency status, and academic credentials, via a stream of messages with different id's purporting to be from all over the world, all agreeing with each other that indeed Hari Ini is a load of hogwash. Analysis of the logs revealed that all messages were posted in a short period of time from the same computer - via an anonymizer service called anonymizer.com. Though we of course agree wholeheartedly that this column should never be taken seriously, (it is indeed largely a satirical and fun column to balance the drier research content on the forum), it seems that the poster did, attacking the person rather than the content, and adopting different id's in an attempt to suggest that their opinion was also shared by several others. We apologize to those who were exposed to these childish postings within the small time window they were available, and re-inforce that much effort is expended on moderating the discussion forum. The discussion facility is available to all those who wish to ask or answer questions, comment, agree, or disagree with views expressed on the forum, or notify others of related Web sites, meetings and conferences. As long as material is relevant to Asia-Pacific business and management, including that critical of our editorial policy, postings are not deleted - and as long as (as my old footy coach put it...) "...you go for the ball and not for the man...". The poster was obviously an academic, given the use of academic terms, and the drawing of attention to the academic qualifications of the editorship of the APMF, which he/she felt was obviously lacking. The APMF believes that the academic establishment does not have an exclusive handle on "intelligence" (and in fact the demonstrated lack of it as exhibited by the poster is a case in point), and that those with experience in the "doing" rather than teaching, research and consulting, can also lay some claim to that label. Academics can lose touch with reality, the same as practitioners can lose touch with theory and the latest research, which is why we publish both research AND street intelligence. Hari Ini is a compendium of tips and comment from more than 50 sources at last count, who email their contributions regularly. Contributors are assessed primarily by their quality and reliability as proved over time, rather than the "bio", academic background, or any authority external to what they actually write. The "collective intelligence" embodied in this column has at no time claimed the appellation of "expert", which was another incorrect observation of the poster. There are many other business and research intelligence sources, many of which are regularly notified (and hyper-linked) from this column and others, which can claim "expert power" via the imprimatur of an academic or research body. We encourage people to visit these excellent sources, of which there are over 1,000 linked from these pages. Our own credibility is established by the utility and correctness of our published material over time, not by the indirect mantle of external authority. We welcome academics and "experts" to contribute - as well as the little urchin boy from the far-away kampung, who despite the urgings of those with greater expert authority, insisted that indeed, "...the emperor had no clothes..." (Today's Hari Ini was authored by Rod Davies, editor of the Asia Pacific Management Forum... Normal format will resume tomorrow)
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Kuala Lumpur: Tuesday 15th February 2000 |
Wahid Abdurrahman is becoming the journo's nemesis, handing out tasty titbits and a few days later changing his mind. None more so than on Sunday when he announced that General "Feelings" Wiranto would stay on in cabinet and then in a midnight meeting a few hours later with Indonesian journo's announcing that Wiranto would be suspended. That's why some newspapers yesterday announced Wiranto's victory and some Wahid's. Foreign and some local observers are saying that Wahid is inconsistent. No probs.. says top newspaper-man Fikri Jufri .. "...That's his style.. he's consistent in his inconsistency...". What is abundantly clear now, is that rumours of a coup were the result of over excitability by foreign journalists. And Wahid, in his own way.. continues to turn around the great nation of Indonesia. Far more travails are upcoming.. but everything is re-inforcing the Rat's view 18 months ago that Wahid is the smartest man in Indonesia.. A brilliant mind facing his greatest challenge. | Mahathir told us to go easy on the new KLIA airport 12 months ago, stating that all new airports have teething problems. Yet enuff is enuff. A nation which does not allow their currency to be traded abroad, makes transfers from the airport to the city very close to the most infuriating in the world. Arrive at KLIA on a late night flight and there is a good bet you will find the couple of small currency exchange booths closed; the limo service doesn't take credit cards and you get directed to the lifts, luggage in hand to "try" the exchange booth in the departures lounge, and if you're luckier than us, by the time you get back the limo rate wouldn't have increased by 50% for the "midnight charge". Again if you are lucky, the driver won't pull in to the petrol station to fill up on the way to KL. Limo ticket attendants are prone to, by default, sell non-locals the "luxury" limo. When queried why a budget taxi wasn't offered, they point to the length of the normal "run-of-the mill" $65 ticket taxi queue. It's an insult to both foreigners and locals. Luggage still takes an interminable time to get delivered from the aircraft. Big on face - low on substance. It's almost as if authorities are trying to maximise your time at the airport so you can buy over-priced airport food and goods - and admire it's admittedly very fine ambiance. They forget that the role of an airport is to get people in and out of a country quickly and efficiently. On that point KLIA continues to fail. | ..And more on the good Pres. Wahid of Indonesia. "The Bare Foot Messiah" prefers to chair his meetings sans shoes. On his recent overseas trip he had to send Vice President Mega out to buy him some. Unlike the KL airport, the Bare Foot Messiah scores low on face and show - and high on substance. | Business visitors to Singapore are noticing the higher visibility of foreign workers these days. Reason is the "foreign talent attraction scheme" that is the encouraging the finest international business and professional minds to come to Singapore to mix it with the Singapore smarties in developing a new vibrant and highly-competitive Singapore. The smartest locals don't mind the competition too much. Sharing of ideas and expertise is what it is all about - and in the end all gain in a globalized world. ...How far Singapore has come in a few short years - while in the US the all-powerful labour unions worry that cheaper goods from developing countries will erode their pay packets... |
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Kuala Lumpur: Monday 14th February 2000 |
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) got off to a start on the weekend in Bangkok, with a stronger representation of the "developing world" than was at the Seattle WTO meeting where the developed world's definition of "free trade" came under intense and critical scrutiny. We will be following the debate this week over whether restrictions on free trade lobbied by the developed world are putting real globalization at risk. | The Far Eastern Economic Review's Asian Executives Poll has found that around 20% work more than 60 hours a week and 52% more than 50 hours. Contrary to expectations, 36% of Australians came under the former category, compared to only 5% of Taiwanese. Some national stereotypes in the region may be due for revision. | The stand-off between Gus Dur and Wiranto is expected to be resolved today with the key being how to eject Wiranto while saving face for all concerned. | The resumption of Anwar's trial has brought to light accusations that would have been revealed around election time, save that the judge got sick and the trial was held up until after the election. As the Malaysian stock market surges and the economy improves, Anwar is being quickly forgotten despite further evidence being presented of a "conspiracy" against him. Anwar's defence pleas of conspiracy have always seemed a bit odd - as politics in Asia wouldn't be politics without forced false confessions under police custody, attempts to smear other's names to gain political advantage, payments under the table and massive cover-ups. It's all in a day's work for your average pollie, and just for the moment - Anwar lucked out. | The World Economic Forum's site at http://www.weforum.org has the wrap up of the Davos chin-wag. | The US-based National Bureau of Economic Research provides a working paper on Capital Movements, Banking Insolvency, and Silent Runs in the Asian Financial Crisis. Instructive Reading (PDF file). The IMF has also published some of their latest country reports as well as a paper on latest economic developments in Laos. (All PDF format)
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Kuala Lumpur: Friday 11th February 2000 |
Well we Did Tip You Off Earlier This Week Department: The Malaysian Stock Market continues to boom even as Singapore, Japan and other markets fall or remain stable. The 1,000 point level looms any tick of the clock. | Falang Go home! Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has ordered the cancellation of several high profile foreign consultancies. Citing high costs while acknowledging their value, his main complaint was the problems of working together due to the foriegners lack of sensitivity to Thai customs and working style. Maybe they should have read Thailand Tales. | Interest rates are up in Korea | You can run.. but you can't hide: Soeharto was named yesterday as a suspect in a corruption investigation into his charities. | Ex Malaysian deputy PM Ghafar, miffed that there would be "no-contest" for the new DPM's spot is reportedly organizing a challenge. Long time APMF readers will recall Ghafar as the buffoon who toured Indonesia in "a private capacity" following Anwar's arrest who commented "You seem to like homosexuals here... If you like him so much.. you can have him.." | A new resource for locating free business articles is BPubs. A search engine just launched, it is certainly likely to be popular amongst funding starved Asian b-schools, to say nothing of anybody who wants something for free...
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Kuala Lumpur: Wednesday 9th February 2000 |
For the past three years throughout Asia, Chinese New Year has heralded stock market surges, though short-lived. The golden dragon has not failed to serve up the fire, with the Kuala Lumpur SE Composite Index hitting a record high yesterday, and the Hang Seng posting good gains mainly on the back of IT-related stocks. Not so good news in Japan, Thailand and Singapore currency and stock markets however, where bad news on the extent of the Japanese recovery put the dragon in a less altruistic mood. Malaysia seems the place to be where major surges in the last month are expected to continue after a lacklustre 1999. Full credit to the Malaysian business paper The Edge, for predicting the stock market resurgence 6 weeks ago. | Wiranto and Abdurrahman Wahid continue their stand off, with the latter proclaiming his innocence in Singapore yesterday saying that resignation would be interpreted as guilt. However, he left open hope of a way through the impasse by saying he would resign if Gus Dur insists. Rumours of a coup have hurt the Indonesian market, though friends of the APMF in Indonesia insist this is not even a moderate possibility, and if a coup was to be staged it would be short-lived. Nobody really is organized in the archipelago at the moment - including the army. | The disadvantages of the digital age: Last week a businessman and his wife stormed into a Malaysian bank complaining of unauthorised withdrawals from their account. Wifey jumped up and down demanding an investigation. Unsmiling bank officials then presented a videotape of a young woman making a withdrawal, causing the husband to suggest his wife go home while he settle the matter. Turned out the video star was the mistress, making a withdrawal in return for deposits of a different kind... | Chinese business news daily is available from Beimei.Com, while CNN has a useful article on how the Internet is becoming China's new democracy wall. | Just for fun: We know there are not just a few psychos who are regular readers of the forum (believe us it helps!). How do we know? Well we know that several Thai, Malaysian and Taiwanese politicans pop in every so often 'cause they complain a lot. Phone-based "help-lines" are all the rage in Asia now, if you have the patience after all the instructions on what buttons to press. If you are looking for help re your psychiatric problems of paranoia, manic-depressiveness, self-delusions or multiple personalities, (even non-pollies may qualify) - try the Psy Hotline. It will only take a second.
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Kuala Lumpur: Monday 7th February 2000 |
China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are celebrating Chinese New Year today with a public holiday. Stock markets closed and don't expect much activity from your Chinese associates in all Asian countries for much of this week. The Golden Dragon needs to be welcomed in style. No way we need an angry dragon after all. | Emerald's Sarah Powell interviews Rosabeth Moss Kantor, ex-editor of Harvard Business Review and professor at Harvard Business School on "leadership and strategy in the new electronic age, changing relationships with employees, and motivational tools". OK, that's enough fawning to Harvard.. maybe they will now see fit to edit our review (:-) | Meanwhile the Swiss Inn in downtown Chinatown in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur is offering a lunch special... You can get a "Garlic Nun" here for a coupla' ringgit. | The World Bank's 1999 Annual Review on East Asia is useful reading | Abdurrahman Wahid is obviously not a Malaysian, otherwise recalcitrant Security Minister Wiranto who has refused to resign for four days now would be charged with sedition, being a raving pooftah, subjecting the populace to extremely bad versions of evil and decadent Western pop songs at the Karoake... and thrown in the big house. .. but that's "Indonesian values" we guess... Strangely enough, if he did, few would object or take to the streets. | While Gus Dur has repealed the law preventing Indonesian Chinese from openly celebrating their New Year, Chinese residents in Denpasur Bali woke up to find their doors painted with red and green circles - signifying they had been targeted for burning and looting... If it was indeed Muslims that commited this act, they are acting of course in defiance of the Holy Qur'an. As for similar ethnic violence in Indonesia against Muslims and non-Muslims alike, this is not a religious act, but a selfish and short-sighted political one. |
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Kuala Lumpur: Friday 4th February 2000 |
China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia have a four day holiday from today for Chinese New Year, other Asian countries are celebrating as well, so don't expect too much response from your Asian offices, associates, partners, or clients for a few days. Stock markets closed too. In the meantime - Gong Xi Fa Cai! | It had to happen - Malaysia's Deputy PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday used the current situation in Indonesia to underline that "Western-style democracy" and "liberal democracy" does not work for all. A startling comment for it's naivete and over-simplification of a complex situation. | Motley Fool examines the "Lessons from Lucent", in a useful article.
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Kuala Lumpur: Thursday 3rd February 2000 |
Wiranto dosen't want to go, though Indonesian chief Indonesian honcho Abdurrahman Wahid has ordered his resignation. The military, held in high regard by the Indonesian people for their ejection of the Dutch in an earlier era, have had their power clipped since the installation of a fragile democracy following the end of the Soeharto era. Meanwhile, parliament speaker Amien Rais is throwing his weight around since the escalation of religious conflict in provincial areas, blaming the Gus Dur/Mega leadership for inaction. Though some portents exist for a possible coup, the Indonesian military is not as strong as even 2 years ago and it is doubtful that Indonesia will go the Pakistan way. | The real reason for Mahathir's non-appearance at the Davos World Economic Forum conference earlier this week has finally surfaced, with Mahathir complaining that his keynote address was cancelled in favour of participation in a seven person discussion panel. Feeling this would not give him the necessary platform to outline his views, he took his bat and went home. APMF friends close to the organizing committee report that the decision was made as it was felt that Mahathir's views were already well-known and there would be little to offer other than a re-iteration of last year's effort, good as it was. | Access Asia offers authoritative Asian public policy research and data. | Tim Wells suggests APMF regulars interested in travel may be interested in WorldRoom, "an integrated business traveler web portal whose audience consists of corporate decision-makers with strong business interests in Asia. Our core offering consists of content customized to the needs of the constant business traveler - that is, city guides and travel news. It is the most comprehensive on-line guide to Asia, constantly updated by international business travelers themselves." | Clarence Henderson, of Pearl of the Orient Seas fame, recommends The National Bureau of Asian Research as an excellent collection of links to Asian Business Research Sites. | The Bangkok Skytrain may look good.. but passenger usage is 60% less than targeted, even at this early stage. Several problems, though the key one we figure is the "Face" aspect. While the wife of the British PM can ride a train, and even pay the fine, many Thais find a train ride to work below their dignity.
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