KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — As the Indonesian maid “crisis” continues to play out, a survey confirms what many Malaysians have suspected: the Indonesians don’t really like us.

The survey, which will be released today by Australia’s Lowy Institute, shows that Malaysia, which was the most highly-regarded nation in the last survey done in 2006, has now dropped to 11th place in the list of 21 countries.

When asked which country posed a threat to Indonesia over the next 10 years, 63 per cent of respondents said Malaysia, followed by the US (49 per cent), China (39 per cent) and Australia (31 per cent).

The abuse of Indonesian maids by Malaysian employers led to the ban of new maids for Malaysia for two years and the dispute is yet to be resolved.

In contrast, Singapore seems to have gone up in favour and now ranks as “one of the most welcome sources of foreign investments.”

McRae is reported as saying Singapore has gone “from an already warm result to a very warm result.”

This shows, he said, that Singapore is “a significant investor in telecommunications and other sectors” and that although there have been tensions in the past, public opinion towards Singapore is positive.

Good riddance.

majulah indonesia

If this continues, we will lose big time.

Indonesian economy is growing fast and expected to become large middle class market, something Malaysian businesses need.

Axiata already has telco in Indonesia, CIMB has operations in Indonesia, and the last thing we need is that they shun us and welcome Singaporeans instead.

We cannot afford this. Even now, their palm oil sector already pawning us, with reduction of export tax affected Malaysian palm oil industry...