Interesting take by MIWallergy from Sammyboy's forum. As with anything you read from Sammyboy's, take it with a pinch of salt (it was, after all, heard on the "grape wine"). But it is an intriguing theory nonetheless. For international readers, MIW stands for Men In White, which is a nickname for the Government.
Heard it on the grape wine. Talk is on in business circles that our MIWs were caught with their belly up by the new Indonesian administration of President SBY.
For years the Indons have been asking for an extradition treaty with Singapore as they suspected almost all the big time economic offenders, crooks sought refuge in Singapore after looting billions out of the country.
Singapore for its own reasons, had steadfastly refused to have any form of extradition treaty, till this new President SBY came along.
His ultimatum was clear. Sign on the dotted line when I come there on 15th. And they did.
The reason is simple. From beginning of this year, there was literally an embargo of goods imported from Singapore.
The customs department in Indonesia just went slow in clearing the shipping cargo from Singapore and used all sorts of delay tactics and red tape measures.
The end result was that Singapore export cargo was piling up at PSA and other places, choking the warehouses. Local agents refused to take cargo from local exporters due to this uncertain set of events. Local companies that depend on exports to Indonesia for their survival were in desperation. The situation was getting serious and alarm was all over the place.
The MIWs signed on the dotted line on 15 of this month when the Indon president visited Singapore, which they had refused to do for nearly 25 years since the Indons first requested for it under Asean spirit co-operation between member states.
The days are now numbered for the big time Indon businessmen who had traditionally sought and secured the right to stay in Singapore and own properties, while parking their loot in banks here.
Watch out, the property market will likely come under more selling pressure.
And MIWallergy adds later:
Two shippers in Tg Pagar are saying the same thing.
Even yesterday. They are finding it difficult to ship their goods from Singapore to Indonesia. They have been doing this for 15 years without any problems. Why now ?
You still have not answered that question nor why this extradition treaty became an agreeable issue now, when all along it was not the case. I think for decades the Indons have been asking for this treaty. Sg said NO all the time.
Another thing. They say goods from Port Klang and Palepas are being cleared at Priok without any hassle. Only Singapore origin goods are being flagged. Now, some Sg shippers are sending the goods across the causeway to circumvent this problem. Does all this tell you something.
Why don't you call up some shippers in Singapore and ask them if they expereince difficulty shipping goods to Indonesia. Please do that and comment.
