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Indonesia is hardly immune to catastrophic breakdowns, as the anti-Communist pogrom showed. But, like India, it has been relatively fortunate in evolving a mode of politics that can include many discontinuities - of class, region, ethnicity, and religion.

Asia's governments come in two broad varieties: young, fragile democracies - and older, fragile authoritarian regimes.

In the 1990s, I was among those Indonesians who demanded and celebrated the departure of our own autocrat, Suharto, and I joined the new government when he left.

Indonesia was colonized for 350 years. We lost our mind-set for entrepreneurship. We only become workers.

Crush Malaysia! Indonesia may change its tactics, but our goal will remain the same.

I travel to Jakarta, I see what an important country it is. I've been working with them for a year.

As the leader of Southeast Asia's oldest democracy, I am always keen to share our experiences. In the half-century since independence, we have found that steady reform is the best way to secure lasting stability. It is a process that continues in Malaysia to this day.

I am still an Indonesian citizen.

We are not facing great economic difficulties. The Indonesian people are faring reasonably well - just compare us to India or some other countries.

I'm willing to work with all parties to reform Indonesia.