Sujadi’s Blog

I’ve been asked this question countless times: How do you feel being a Singaporean away from home? The politically correct answer is – I feel proud. Like many Singaporeans, it feels good when others praise Singapore for being efficient, clean and wealthy. Of course I am quick to butt in and say Singapore is rich but not all Singaporeans are rich. There are poor Singaporeans just as there are poor Indonesians. But the general view among ordinary Indonesians is that Singapore is rich and Indonesia is not. While to a large extent this is true, the question I always ask myself is: does this perception of Singapore among ordinary Indonesians really matter?

Being perceived as a rich neighbor comes with certain expectations – namely to assist when the need arises. And being able to be the first to extend a helping hand. Personally, I learnt this a long time ago because I still have many relatives in Central Java. Although I’m sure they are not among the 40 million poor Indonesians, they certainly need help to send their children to school.

Collectively, I believe Singapore has somewhat met this expectation. The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami presented Singaporeans the opportunity to demonstrate that we have our hearts in the right places. Singapore’s contribution may be small compared to the more than US$6 billion raised by international donors for Indonesia. But if you had the chance to visit Meulaboh, West Aceh – you will hear the locals praising Singapore for its “small” efforts. The orphanages, schools, hospital and the pier Singapore helped rebuild mattered to the people.

But one project which I thought touched the people of Meulaboh most was the memorial for those who perished during the Tsunami. No one bothered about the mass grave that became overgrown with bushes and trees. But Mercy Relief spent SGD80,000 to construct the memorial where more than 20,000 residents were buried. Residents now have a decent place to remember their loved ones and offer prayers. This memorial will be remembered for generations to come.

Upon leaving Meulaboh last month, I met Samsul at the airport – actually more of an airstrip. I saw him during my previous visits. He’s the shoeshine man, in his 30’s, retarded and frankly, quite scary looking. And he looks like the street beggars you’ve seen in many parts of Indonesia. But Eddie - a Mercy Relief staff based in Meulaboh - pointed to me that Samsul is not a street begger. I spoke to him for a bit while waiting for our aircraft. He would not take any handouts. He would only take payments for his shoeshine service. He rejected Eddie’s offer of help for materials to build the roof over his damaged house. Instead he asked for leftover materials. Samsul proudly claimed Eddie is his good friend and vice versa. As I was about to board the single-propeller, Samsul proudly opened his shoe-shine box to show a photo of Eddie and him glued on the inside of cover. It moved me.

Samsul had polished thousands of shoes worn by people from different countries that passed through Meulaboh airport to help in the aftermath of the Tsunami. But its Eddie’s that he remembers most. I supposed Samsul sees Eddie as a friend, not just another NGO worker who came to help. I wonder – collectively - is Singapore similarly seen in the same light by most other Indonesians?

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