Indonesian cooperatives minister Adi Sasono has joined thefray, warning bluntly in an interview with Radio SingaporeInternational that nations that had ''joined in the grand party''of the Suharto era and ''robbed the country's money'' shouldrealize that the times have changed. Alhough he refused to name Singapore in the interview, it isassumed here that his comments were directed at the city state. I have not seen Singapore's interest inhelping the people's economy,'' he said in that interview. Following Habibie's latest outburst and Sasono's comments,Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans that theircountry is in the middle of a big storm brewing in the region, andthat people need to remain united. ''If you follow what's going on around us, you will understandwhy we have to be united,'' he said. The media here are full of daily stories of riots, factionalreligious killings and socio-political conflict in Indonesia.
Race is understood differently in contemporary Indonesia andSingapore.
Racial issues are generally more serious in Singaporeand Malaysia than in Indonesia. Analysts warn that,whoever may win the presidential poll this year in Indonesia,bilateral ties are headed for more turbulence.