Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. But it is also facing tremendous economic challenges. Poverty is rising, unemployment is high, and unrest is mounting.

What are the views of Indonesian bloggers and residents on the Wall Street crash?

First, a background on the Indonesian economy. Indonesia Project writes:

“Indonesia’s inflation rate is now well over twice as high as the central bank’s target of about five per cent. There are two convenient scapegoats: big increases in both oil and rice prices. But the real explanation, as always, is unduly loose monetary policy.”

The Polar Bear Diaries is not optimistic about the status of Indonesia’s economy:

“Indonesia survives by exporting produce from its large workforce. Local market purchasing power is limited. A large percentage of the population live from hand to mouth, with little or no savings. But those exports are falling compared to imports, and the general cost of living is rising dramatically. Exports will fall a lot further as consumer confidence in the West is eroded.”

The Wall Street crash had an immediate impact on Indonesia’s economy. Everything Indonesia reports:

“Indonesia's composite index fell around 10% in a single day Monday, the kind of drop that would have American market commentators running for their bottles of Maalox…Contracting economies means less energy consumption which means Indonesian commodity concerns, like coal companies, get hammered.”

Indonesian banks suffered too which pushed some local investors to seek government assistance. Exegesis disapproves this kind of behavior:

“Have you read newspapers lately? I'm talking about those people trying to ask compensation from the government for their investment loss due to the crippling effect from the Wall Street's recent fiasco. They are amazing. When they decided to put their money in private investment bank, they did it out of respectable greed and of course without consulting any government whatsoever (in fact it's really like: hey this is my money, you government stay away!). Now the bank they put their money with is facing serious problem and is likely to share the pain with their individual ‘investors'. And they're asking the government to pay for their loss? I don't get it. I really don't.”

Meanwhile, Id economy shares the government's optimism:

“I fully agree with government about the current condition, we're still good to go but we should anticipate for contagion effect, in this case by fighting liquidity squish both for domestic currency (by limiting credit expansion) and foreign currency (by promoting export).”

The public is advised not to panic:

“If you ask me what next, to be honest I do not know. Since that's all depends on the market now. Depends on the result of maintaining current account we will see up and down in rupiah's exchange rate that's for sure. And depends on the credit growth reform we will see (in my opinion) slowdown in economic growth. But how the swing up and down is completely up to the market to decide. Yes, please play safe these days, there are panic people out there, and it is a bliss and bless for us not to be panic (now).”

treespotter hopes the situation in the US will improve:

“I am not an American but I have financial interests to see the market go back to where it was (if possible, circa 2005). Similar to America, I’m up to my neck in debt and survive only on steeply declining asset and a line of credit. I don’t get to vote for American president and I don’t have a representative to call. I get to watch the whole thing from television and the internet, and I truly wonder if anyone there really knows what they’re doing. I sincerely hope so.”

Cafe Salemba supports the bailout program of the US government:

“You may agree or disagree with the plan, but I think it is imperative to at least understand that this is about how to deal with credit market, the heart of the economy that keeps its lifeblood flowing, that doesn't work. One lesson from the 1930 Great Depression and 1998 Asian Crisis is that the failure to do so will bring a prolonged credit crunch and output contraction. It could become indeed very nasty.”

The threat of economic recession is affecting personal perspectives. Java Jive writes:

“It’s October, so it must be that time of year when I freak out about the future, to stay in Indonesia or not, to seek another career option, or simply maintain what I’ve been doing for so long now. It doesn’t help that the American economy has been thrown in the canal, nor that the Indonesian economy is now heading towards possible turmoil as well.”

Indonesia Matters discusses the prospect of making the sharia finance as alternative to the US economic and banking model. A lively discussion in the comments section ensues:

Andy notes how the West managed to survive economic recessions in the past:

“Whatever happens in the west now I don’t believe will be as bad as 1987 and certainly not as bad as 1929. And from both cases the west returned stronger than ever before. Compare that to now where Indonesia still hasn’t recovered from 1998 even though ten years have passed.”

Marisa points out the need to reform the US financial sector:

“How does USA’s financial crisis affect Indonesia, anyhow? According to Faisal Basri on last night’s news, it has not greatly affected Indonesia, because Indonesia hasn’t reached that certain economic depth with the US that would make it as affected as, for instance, Australia. Oh wow, apparently Indonesia isn’t so westernized after all, we just look westernized.

“While our Asian third world brains are beginning to question the worthiness of our loyalty to the Great White Hope — vice versa, America must endure whatever it is they need to endure…I do absolutely agree that American financial sector must reform itself, especially after Bush administration and the way its doing things.”

Unspun questions the imprecise reporting of Indonesian newspapers about the financial crisis. Via Twitter, vmahmud writes: “…is now seeking tweets from the U.S. Stock Exchange. Everyone have their parachutes ready?”

Newspapers have described the tragedy as “the biggest in Tanzania's history” and “the worst-ever disaster during Eid al-Fitr”.

Organisers of the young people's disco popularly known in Tanzania as ‘Toto disco' have been arrested for investigation.

Blogger Faustine's Baraza posts photos of the disco hall and bodies in a mortuary and so does Issa Michuzi.

Some of the readers have called for better safety practices:

TUWEKE MBELE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES. TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND AVOIDABLE DEATHS. SIJUI LINI TUTAJIFUNZA!!

And in the same post another reader says:

Tukio kama hili linahitaji Rais Jakaya kwenda kutoa pole, hasa inapozingatiwa kwamba huwa anahudhuria ajali za watu ambao huwa wanamajina pale Muhimbili. Hili ni swala kubwa na sio kumtuma Mh. Kapuya.
Anatakiwa kuwasili katika eneo la tukio na kukagua , kutoa pole na pia kuhutubia wananchi.
Pia ni wakati wa TZ, hasa Fire marshal kuanza kuangalia uwezo wa sehemu za disco kuchukua kiasi fulani cha watu na njia za tahadhari (Exit)kama hali kama hii ikitikoea.Ikiwa ni pamoja na kuwa na Genereta, na wasaidiza wa haraka.

Msimbe of Lukwangule Entertainment writes that two people have been arrested for questioning including the manager of One Ten Disco and the manager of Bubbles Night Club in addition to the two directors of the two discos who were arrested earlier.

Issa Michuzi, in one of the series of posts about the incident has a post by a special correspondent stating that the Tanzanian President has ordered a full investigation about the causes of deaths.

Local government in Tabora has already set up an investigating commission. Some readers think that the local government is one of the culprits that caused to the tragedy and place the blame on the local governments in the first place:

Maeneo ya Wazi ya wapi mjini Tabora?Je,kuna uwanja wa mabembea na michezo ya watoto japo mmoja tu katika mji mzima wa Tabora?Kosa la nani?Asitafutwe mchawi hapa au kurushiana lawama.Poor Leadership in Government Institutions is the cause of all this. Mpaka watoto zetu wafe ndipo viongozi wakurupuke na kujifanya wanahusika kwelikweli kumbe usanii tu!What a Pity?Viwanja vyao vya michezo vingekuwepo mtoto gani angefikiria aende disco aache mabembea?too much politicking!Nothing Doing,eti tuna Doctorate Degrees!Za kubandika ukutani?

While sympathising with the families of the victims many of the comments have been directed at the local government and the need for better risk management:

Nawapa pole wafiwa na wanatabora wote kwa janga hili la kitaifa. Tunajifunza nini kwa hili?
1. Maafa na ajali zinazomaliza maelfu ya watanzania ni vitu vya mpito tu na serikali haitilii maanani kuyapunguza. Ripoti za chang'ombe, Kisutu, muhimbili zimefanya nini kupunguza majanga haya?
2. Tutaunda tume 100 lakini hazisaidii kumaliza majanga kwa sababu ya kutokuwa makini na kujali maisha ya watu wa kawaida.
3. Kama watoto hawatakiwi kwenda disco, je serikali mkoani tabora hawakuona hilo?
4. Kama wanaruhusiwa kwa masharti, basi NSSF (mmiliki), Mpiga Disco (mkaribishaji)na Manispaa (dhamana ya ukaguzi) wawajibishwe kikamilifu.
Watanzania mliopo nyumbani wakumbusheni viongozi majukumu yao kwa kupinga haya mambo. Wanasheria wasaidieni waathirika na hakikisheni wanapata “fair and adequate compensation” na iwe fundisho kwa wengine.

Karim El Behiry reports from the Gharbeia governorate:

Karim continues:

Back to Arabawy who notes the probable cause of the fire could be “electric sparks as the machines were re-started after the holidays. The textile factories of course are full of raw cotton supplies and inflammable materials. Fire spread quickly.”

The series of fires is really fishy, and a conspiracy theory is quite appealing for so many Egyptians, given the recurrence of the severe fires hitting influential/historic Egyptian buildings which started with the Egyptian Parliament on August 19th, 2008, followed by the National Theatre in Cairo.

Linuxawy lists the fires and tries to speculate which building's turn is it next?

He adds:

”

How did governments react to the issue? Chinese milk products were scrutinized, strictly regulated and banned. Even the popular white rabbit candy was listed as a dangerous food item. Health agencies have published a list of safe products from China.

Because of the milk scare, consumers are changing their diet, while others refrain from drinking milk. As expected, milk companies are assuring customers that their products are safe. A consumer from Brunei wants the government to review its list of contaminated milk products. Now a Mummy is worried since she bought a biscuit from a company based in China.

What is the reaction of bloggers? A Singaporean describes the issue as “Weapons of Mass Consumption-Tainted Milk Saga.”

Bangkok Pundit advises the government not to overreact:

“The government needs to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of its citizens, but it likewise shouldn't overreact and create a panic - if the government overreacts, China could retaliate and this affects Thai exporters.”

A reader is shocked to see Chinese milk products still being sold in Thailand supermarkets:

“I think the Thai government's stance is totally unacceptable, it's not just a question of PR. How come you can still see the products on the shelves in supermarkets? The government should take a strong stance for the public safety and inform us clearly what products are contaminated and remove them.”

Alexisthetiny from Bangkok will now buy more local and unprocessed food products:

“Melamine is supposed to be toxic, right? How in the heck, then can we have ‘acceptable levels’ of that stuff in our food? I’d imagine that for something this disgustingly bad for our health, ‘acceptable levels’ would be nil. Jesus. How on earth have we gotten to a point where we would allow stuff like that to be added to our food? Actually, how on earth have we gotten to this point where we allow corporations to tell us what is ok in food even if it goes against our instincts? One thing for sure, this is going to change my food shopping habits. From now on, its as local and unprocessed as it can get.”

My Food for Thots from Malaysia writes about the difficulty of banning trade with China:

“But heck, what's not made in China? Even Nike shoes are made in China! Does this mean it's only safe buying stuff not made in China? Which only mean the expensive, branded stuff? Which leads to bigger inflation? Which means our salaries will not suffice? Sigh….”

Tumbleweed in Space from East Timor writes about what the milk scandal revealed on modern living:

“The recent milk scandal in China once again reminds us of how much contaminants there are in almost every aspect of our life. This time it's melamine, but recently studies have also shown that polycarbonate, a plastic commonly used for milk bottles, contains the hormone-disrupting Biphesonol-A.”

What is the possible impact of the scandal on Myanmar? Fear from Freedom explains:

“Chinese milk powder is used widely in Myanmar. Coffee and tea mixed packets are used widely as well. Since these packets contained milk powder the authorities should check the source of the milk. Singapore found tainted milk powder in tea packets and our imports are from Singapore. It is important to tell the people so they can avoid milk powder from China in any form until things are checked.”

House on a Hill from the Philippines reminds the government not to impose trade policies that hurt the poor:

“Instead of taking pains to determine whether Sanlu milk could have indeed been smuggled into the country and sold to the public, we have government officials overreacting by freezing imports and pulling off the supermarket shelves just about any milk and milk-based product from China. What kind of solution is that? That’s a double whammy. That’s discriminating against legitimate Chinese producers and exporters of milk and milk-based products. Worse, that is hurting poor Filipinos who can not afford the que horror prices of milk and milk products sold locally by multinational companies.”

Then she identifies alternative sources of calcium:

“So we have a government who has continually failed to educate the people of the dangers of buying unlabeled food products. That same government is cutting off the supply of cheap milk because it cannot curb smuggling. Where does that leave the consumers, especially the poor ones? For those with children below two years old, breastfeed them. For the rest, understand that while milk is a good source of calcium, it is not the only source of calcium. Sardines, okra, tofu and beans are all rich in calcium.”

The Curious Life of a Quirky Chef from the Philippines asks “Is China trying to kill the world one kid at a time?” The blogger adds:

“First, there was the global controversy about children's toys that were tainted with lead. Then, the issue about candies and biscuits from China that allegedly contain formaldehyde. Today, health officials all over the world, plus the millions of dairy consumers are panicking because of the Chinese milk products that are contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.”

Vatanema has filmed a sandstrom in the southern city Ahwaz in the oil rich Khuzestan province. The blogger says [fa]:

I imitated Americans who name everything, calling their hurricane Gustav. I am calling this storm Jasem. It seems that between four and eight people perished in this storm, just like what happened in Gustav.

Here is the video:

Badahwazi also took and published photos from the sandstorm in Ahwaz.

You can find more photos of the storm in Zirsigari's photoblog.

Meanwhile, Mohmmad Darvish, a leading environmentalist, talks [fa] about sandstorms in the Sistan and Balouchestan province.

He says:

Iranian media all talked about Gustav but ignored the sand storms in the Sistan and Baluchistan province particularly in Zabol .It seems the oppressed of this world should remain oppressed on all levels. Just compare the number of films that Iranian national TV broadcast about Gustav, to the number of films about sand storms in the Zabol or Khuzestan provinces.