Jakarta Gubernatorial Election Bets & Results

[Daniel50]

Never and we have talked that after one more visit this Summer, it may be even the last visit there except for perhaps an airport transfer of planes. Family wants to see us, they can get on a plane, in a car, on a boat and come to us.

It doesn't sound like you are struggling with ambiguity?

 

[jstar]

But then the question becomes; why even live in RI? And if you want easy access, perhaps Malaysia (with MM2H), Thailand or even Australia make more sense. Just to name a few.

OT: Of course one might ask him/herself what would have happened with Prabowo as president.

I am convinced the trias politica, the separation of powers, would be much better followed and maintained. No BS that implementing more religion in society means following the Pancasila.

And many of the leaders would have disappeared.

Perhaps we are all wrong and 'they' are right; perhaps this country is not ready for full blown democracy.

 

[Zavia]

Starting

https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/...to-Revamp-Religious-Activities-Banned-by-Ahok

So hes saying churches and all other religions can use it too? yay!

But then the question becomes; why even live in RI? And if you want easy access, perhaps Malaysia (with MM2H), Thailand or even Australia make more sense. Just to name a few.

OT: Of course one might ask him/herself what would have happened with Prabowo as president.

I am convinced the trias politica, the separation of powers, would be much better followed and maintained. No BS that implementing more religion in society means following the Pancasila.

And many of the leaders would have disappeared.

Perhaps we are all wrong and 'they' are right; perhaps this country is not ready for full blown democracy.

I heard australia is now harder and harder to go to. Singapore is reasonably easy if you have the education and high enough position. Not sure about thailand. Anyone has opinions on MM2H? Know anyone who did it? Is the bureaucracy equivalent to indonesia?

 

[Davita]

Anyone has opinions on MM2H? Know anyone who did it? Is the bureaucracy equivalent to indonesia?

My wife (Indonesian born but Canadian citizen) and myself (dual UK/Canadian) acquired the MM2H some 8+ years ago. Its a 10 year renewable visa with little restriction and reasonable benefits.
We took it thinking it would give us a plan B if our attempt to retire in Indonesia didn't materialize. It was before deciding to permanently return to Indonesia on a Retirement Visa and has, hitherto, been a back-up plan in case the political situation in Indonesia became unbearable. So far, everything about retiring to Indonesia has worked reasonably well and we enjoy living between our two homes in Bali and Jakarta....so, last year, I decided to give-up our MM2H and have our fixed deposit (FD) in MYR returned.

Given recent Indonesian justice and political nuance I'm already regretting giving-up the MM2H. I don't wish to live there but Indonesia, if it continues with this political power play, may become intolerable. I cannot afford to return to Vancouver with its hike in property values as the house I sold there to buy my Indonesian property has more than doubled in price and my Indonesian property has lost value...such is fate.

My only experience with Malaysian bureaucracy is twice going to Putrajaya for MM2H purpose. Putrajaya, just outside KL, is a city on its own and is complete with parks, lakes and impeccable gov't offices. Malaysian civil servants, imo, are civil and give good service, albeit not at the pace I'd prefer. I took the liberty of congratulating the leader of the large office I was in for how, in my opinion, a gov't office should be conducted.....he was a little overwhelmed but I believe appreciated that I took the time and I overheard him translate my comments to his team. There were smiles and waves as we left the premises.
Indonesia, on the other hand, is terrible and never gets anything right and then, when they find their mistake, the client gets blamed for their own incompetence....they make-up excuses for any failings instead of admitting and correcting them. It seems to be a mind-set to never admit to a mistake. Maybe President Trump got the idea from Indonesia.

I believe the MM2H program is very useful and not too difficult visa to acquire...I get the feeling many Mainland Chinese are using the program, with new found wealth, and perhaps the Malays will need to adjust their criteria to deflect those who may find a way to abuse the system. I've already heard many were simply buying into whole development blocks in Johore on mortgage..... but lately the Chinese Gov't have put a restriction on money transfer out of China. This may offer a good investment for some other investors.....I believe most of those deposits were not returned as the buyers failed to complete the purchase due no more money.

Worth a look...and I'll await my commission if you get a deal...

 

[Anglian]

We thought about Retirement in Malaysia, but the way my wife was treated on several occasions put us off, an Indian gentleman asked why on earth I married an Indonesian women, I told him that they were much more trusting and loving after I had sacked our Indian maid for stealing, then the taxi driver who asked my wife why her boss was taking her to Bayu caves, my wife told what she thought of him, lastly the bank clerk who gave me the wrong form to transfer money to my daughter in jakarta, when I pointed this out, oh this form is for your maid, no she's not my maid she's my wife groveling apologies, but having said all that she did have many Chinese and Indian friends, but not so many malays

 

[fastpitch17]

For us, we are stuck in Indonesia. After losing our life savings we have to manage on pension and retirement income. We do just fine with that but made it impossible to be able to purchase anything residence wise and for sure made the possibility to choose another country impossible since most retirement programs need investments. So, we will stick it out. Avoid Jakarta all we can and see how much the disease spreads.

It's unfortunate the story Anglian tells of Malaysia. We found just the opposite. My wife was treated with nothing but respect. Of course, there is a reason. First off, she speaks malay and was able to communicate easily where at times she was accused of being Malaysian. All Indian services treated her very well basically because they found out she still uses the name Singh. Grab cars were there in a minute with Indian drivers just because they seen the name. While she doesn't speak any Indian except for a few Punjabi words she remembers from childhood, all spoke English very well. So, Malaysia would be a very good fit for her. Unfortunately, it will only be as visitors.

 

[Davita]

Reost #65 by Anglian.
hahaha...your experience contradicts my own.

In Hong Kong, when I drove my wife and her dolled-up flight attendant girl-friends to 'do lunch' they liked to sit in the back of my car.... so it was often observed, by hotel/restaurant doormen, that she must be rich to afford a gweilo gentleman driver....who must be a professional as he could park the car so well.

When she was caught speeding on Interstate 5 in Seattle..she told the arresting officer her father (me) was in cardiac arrest and had to get to hospital...so he gave us an escort.
Shit.... I was only hung-over from the previous night and had fallen asleep in the passenger seat.

On another occasion, in Vancouver, I was on hands and knees weeding my front garden when a salesman arrived and asked "Is the owner of the house at home?" Pissed...I retorted "No...she's in the friggin' spa having her fu+kn' nails done!"
Unabashed he gave me a card and said "Please see she gets my card!" I muttered "Jebeno off".....an expression I'd learned from my Croatian friend who we were helping with his refugee status......and was working in the back garden. The salesman smiled and said "There's a good fellow!"

I'm also reminded of that famous sexy actress who said she was a "housekeeper." When asked to clarify she explained she'd meet a rich guy with a big house and seduce him into marriage...then divorce and 'keep the house'...QED...she was a "Housekeeper!"

It takes all types to be recognized as having status....i.e. If I were to arrive from outer space and someone would introduce Donald Trump as the President of the United States...I'd fall over laughing.

 

[Daniel50]

I think status is overrated and relative. I am a multi-millionaire with a yacht cruising into Monaco (not me really, oh how envious I am hahahaha) feeling good until the bilionaire cruises in on his new super yacht and then I am suffering from yacht envy. I am the director but he is the owner, I am the supervisor, I am an employee. Some people are driven to work, work, work. Sometimes when I don't feel important I always need to prove how important I am, that can get pretty tiring too. It depends what lifestyle a person becomes accustomed too and what you are prepared to do to get it. Life can be fairly simple or complicated depending on my beliefs, attitudes and circumstances. A person sure does not need lots to be happy but you don't want to be sleeping under the bridge either.

Ahok looks a lot more relaxed these days. There is some video circulating showing lots of flowers sent to the Governors office. i actually feel kind of good for him.

 

[jstar]

 

[Zavia]

For us, we are stuck in Indonesia. After losing our life savings we have to manage on pension and retirement income. We do just fine with that but made it impossible to be able to purchase anything residence wise and for sure made the possibility to choose another country impossible since most retirement programs need investments. So, we will stick it out. Avoid Jakarta all we can and see how much the disease spreads.

It's unfortunate the story Anglian tells of Malaysia. We found just the opposite. My wife was treated with nothing but respect. Of course, there is a reason. First off, she speaks malay and was able to communicate easily where at times she was accused of being Malaysian. All Indian services treated her very well basically because they found out she still uses the name Singh. Grab cars were there in a minute with Indian drivers just because they seen the name. While she doesn't speak any Indian except for a few Punjabi words she remembers from childhood, all spoke English very well. So, Malaysia would be a very good fit for her. Unfortunately, it will only be as visitors.

I cant say I really understood Anglian's post, but got the general gist that it wasnt positive.

"accused of being Malaysian" do tell more about this, who accused her? Malaysians or foreigners? And in what context.

 

[fastpitch17]

I cant say I really understood Anglian's post, but got the general gist that it wasnt positive.

"accused of being Malaysian" do tell more about this, who accused her? Malaysians or foreigners? And in what context.

Both Malaysians and others that have been lifetime residents of Malaysia like some of the Chinese. The Indians not so much. Mostly due to her ease of communication with them. Maybe not that she was a certified born Malaysian but perhaps someone who has spent her entire life there like many not of Malaysian pure blood. We wouldn't call an Indian or Chinese whose family was in Malaysia their entire lives, foreigners.

 

[Anglian]

In general my wife quite enjoyed living in Malaysia, I,ll leave it at that unless someone wants to start a thread about living in Malaysia, but there is always some arsole who will spoil your day

 

[jstar]

I know some people who ordered flowers etc. They are in no way related to Ahok, even when the opposition states he bought it for himself.

 

[Davita]

I cant say I really understood Anglian's post, but got the general gist that it wasnt positive.

It was clear to me Anglian was commenting on a general situation where mixed marriages (whitey's and Asians) are sometimes looked down on. Imo this happens elsewhere and, in general, my wife and I take the view that those who are so demeaning are simply ignorant and we treat them as such...'ignoramusessss'

I'll repeat a story when, in Vancouver, my Indonesian wife cooked her favorite 'spring rolls' for a boat party. One 'slightly' inebriated Canadian lady loudly questioned..."These rolls are delicious.... which third-world country did you learn to cook these."

My wife responded...."Canada!".....there was much laughter and hi-fives....

 

[nd_eric_77]

I know some people who ordered flowers etc. They are in no way related to Ahok, even when the opposition states he bought it for himself.

Same here. My coworkers purchased a "papan bunga", as did my wife & her old classmates.

 

[Daniel50]

It was clear to me Anglian was commenting on a general situation where mixed marriages (whitey's and Asians) are sometimes looked down on. Imo this happens elsewhere and, in general, my wife and I take the view that those who are so demeaning are simply ignorant and we treat them assuch...'ignoramusessss

I think some Malaysians look down on Indonesians. This happens everywhere some Asians look down on other Asian groups etc etc etc.. I think, in Canada anyways, inter-racial marriage is more normal among the younger generations and both Vancouver and Toronto area have a higher ratio of inter-racial marriages. Having said that there are always some racists or unhappy/judgemental people. I have heard the FPI may have certain "biases" themselves.

Speaking of ethnicity and religion. Go Ahok some people wanting to celebrate a good man.

 

[Anglian]

Yes, Indonesians aren't really held in high esteem, neither are Indians or Chinese, when I worked at MAS, we actually finished a B747 check on time, MAs management threw a party, all invited, except when we, Aussies and Brits got there we were told, Oh,it's not for you, the Aussies made sure another didn't go out on time, it was the Indonesians and Thais who built Malaysian roads, etc, while the Malays sat on their backsides moaning about the Chinese making all the money

 

[jstar]

Yes that last sentence sounds very familiar...

 

[Anglian]

Now this one Davita will like this, my first day at MAS, I noted all the racking and shelves for storing removed aircraft components had carpeting on, I remarked to my Aussie oppo, now that's a good idea I haven't seen that before, well just wait till lunch time, he said sure enough I was very surprised to see the Malays sleeping on the racks, that's why the carpets were there, we never would wake them up, if you did they would just disappear and find somewhere else to sleep, a senior manager came down one day and asked us to wake them up, we told him the problem,his answer was well give them 10 or 15 minutes, I was asked by a senior manager, could I motivate them, my response, You cannot motivate the motivatless, they went down like a lead balloon,

 

[ukcouple]

In my opinion, the best alternative to Indonesia at least for retired western expats who want to stay in this part of the world is without doubt the Philippines.

For several reasons.

1. English is widely spoken and almost all Filipinos or Filipinas have had a lot of exposure to westerners and western culture so it's easy to fit in.

2. It's a Christian country not Islamic.. so in the long term given events in Indonesia more compatible with what makes most westerners feel comfortable.

3. Visas for long time residence are (I think).. easier and cheaper to get than Malaysia.

4. For UK citizens you get an inflation linked state pension.. it's locked in Indonesia to the amount it was at the beginning.

As an aside.. and for those UK expats living abroad, I have just learned that on return to the UK you are NOT entitled to free hospital care under the NHS. In fact you must pay for your hospital costs at 1.5 times NHS cost. So forget about going back to the UK for free treatment on the NHS if you get sick.

That applies even if you are fully paid up with NI contributions.

Perhaps that is common knowledge for others but I just found out about that.