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Build working class unity in South East-Asia
Joint Statement - October 15, 2009
Confederation Congress of Indonesia Union Alliance, Socialist Party of Malaysia and the Working People's Association
Introduction
Sometime ago returned resounding sentiment of anti-Malaysian after the appearance of alleged claims cases of Pendet dance by Malaysia. Both sides; the Indonesian and the Malaysian Government comment on each other regarding that claim. On the other hand appeared demonstration in Indonesia, which brought anti-Malaysia issue. These incident is not happening for the first time. Previously, chauvinist sentiment has appeared several times due to such cases as territorial disputes like Island of Ligitan Sipadan, Block Ambalat, Island of Jemur; art claims like Reog dance as well as Rasa Sayang-Sayange traditional song.
The bourgeoisie interest behind chauvinist sentiments
The increase of anti-Malaysian sentiment or anti-Indonesia sentiment is an expression of political interest of the bourgeoisie as the ruling class in both countries. If we exam the sensation blows by the media as a tools to burn peoples hatred in the two nations are always impinged to PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS and ACCESS TO CAPITAL. Starting from territorial disputes that containing gas and mineral resources (Ambalat, Sipadan-Ligitan) until disputes about cultural patent rights (sic) in the tourism business competition.
In the case of dispute about Block Ambalat we can see the capital interests playing in it. Block Ambalat is an area rich with crude oil (estimated around 1 billion barrels of crude oil) became seizure of multinational oil companies. Indonesia in the 1980s has signed an agreement with Emi Ambalat Ltd. (Italy) and Unocal Indonesia Ventures Ltd. (USA). While Malaysia has signed an agreement with Shell (Netherlands) and Petronas.
Meanwhile, culture claims by Malaysia is always related to the interests of the Malaysian tourism industry. Malaysia's tourism industry is the second largest sector for foreign currency, after manufacturing. For example, Malaysia's economy get RM 17.40 billion from 10.22 million tourists in 2000. Following years is always increase, in 2001 became RM 24, 20 billion, in 2002 became RM 25.80 billion. Later in the year 2004 became RM 29.7 billion and RM 32 billion in 2005. Last year Malaysia got RM 36.3 billion (USD 10.4 billion) from tourism sector. Malaysian tourism sector also contributed to the availability of substantial employment. Of the total Malaysian labor force, 51 percent work in the service sector. The number is around 5.4 million out of 10.73 million national workforce employed directly or indirectly in the tourism sector such as restaurants, travel agents, airlines, transportation, etc. By providing employment, tourism sector has played an important role to suppress the level of unemployment at around 3.5 percent (year 2005/2006)
The interest and international struggle of Indonesian and Malaysian working class
The essence of the flaming hatred towards the MALAYSIAN PEOPLE in Indonesia or INDONESIAN people in Malaysia is a reflection of old clichi attitude of the reactionary bourgeois with nationalist masquerade. PRP, KASBI and PSM agree to understand the flaming of narrow nationality chauvinism in a Marxist perspective. Karl Marx once proclaimed, "The working men have no country. We cannot take from them what they have not got." The working class has an international nature and must fight in international arena. The Indonesian and Malaysian working class should strengthen their solidarity struggle and correctly reflecting Karl Marx comment on reactionary nationalism of the bourgeois class.
Developing an international solidarity can not be separated from the fight against Imperialism and Neoliberalism. Imperialism and Neoliberalism grip third world countries through various ways. Military attacks as perpetrated against the Iraqi people or through a ruling puppet regime. In Indonesia, neoliberal policies implemented through the puppet regime in power. These policies are part of the loan extending through international financial institutions or directly from the main Imperialist countries. These policies, among others are; privatization, the sale of natural resources and labor market flexibility. Even today, amid the global capitalist crisis the working class in all its variations (employment and unemployment, seasonal, contract or subcontract, formal and informal) is the main source of capitalist income (directly through profit or indirectly through interest, taxes, royalties and rent).
Reactionary mentality like chauvinism and all reactionary and conservative mentality, will be eliminated in a socialist society, not by forcing people, but because of social conditions would be changed. And social conditions tend to form thoughts and sentiments of people. Social conditions under capitalism, which extol private ownership and exploitation as a way of bourgeoisie pursuing prosperity must be abolished. Along with the construction of the socialist social conditions also possible wipe all of the reactionary petty prejudices that only benefits the interests of the bourgeoisie but incite working class to war and conflict among the oppressed classes in the two countries that are oppressed by neoliberalism and imperialism – Indonesia and Malaysia.
Jakarta, Indonesia, October 15, 2009
National Chairperson
Working People's Association
(PRP)
(Anwar Ma'ruf)
Chairperson
Confederation Congress of
Indonesia Union Alliance (KASBI)
(Nining Elitos)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 15, 2009
International Bureau Socialist
Party of Malaysia (PSM)
(Choo Chon Kai)
International Bureau
Socialist Party of Malaysia/Parti
Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
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