l~ternafionai Journaf of lnformafjon management (1992), 12 (156-l 59)

High Standards in South East Asia

R.E. WIGGINS

Robert Wiggins - of Robert Wiggins and My travels abroad seem to go in distinct cycles: 1988 was a busy year Partners, The Cura Consortium, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, UK - is Assistant Edi-

with projects in India, Spain and Norway; May 1991 saw me in Qatar in

tor of International Journal of lnfornzalion the Middle East undertaking a records management assignment for the

Management. Qatar General Petroleum Company, while in July and August came a six-week study of ASEAN countries’ standards organizations under- taken in collaboration with a representative from the British Standards Institute.

The project itself formed part of an ASEAN-EEC Industrial Stan- dards and Quality Assurance Programme which is intended to promote the development of ASEAN trade and industry through a strengthening of the underlying framework of industrial standards in the region. The standards information project itself was contracted to Resource, an organization sponsored by the British Government and the British Standards Institute and aimed at exploiting British expertise abroad. The study involved visits to Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, who together make up the ASEAN countries.

While the results of the study itself are confidential to the organiza- tions visited, it is no secret that the countries of South East Asia provide many examples of extraordinary economic success. Singapore, along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, are referred to as Asia’s ‘Four Little Dragons’ and their advances are causing them to be ranked along with the world’s advanced economies. The other five countries in the region - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines - while less developed economically, are nevertheless contributing significantly to the success of the region in their various ways. As an indication of the potential of the region, the ASEAN countries alone have a combined population of 320 million and a gross national product of over $300 million a year.

As to personal observations, the visit to Manila in the Phillippines affected me most with a mixture of sorrow and happiness. The Filipinos are a gregarious, friendly people with a lilt to their English reminiscent of West Indians, and indicative of their love of music, song and dance. Music is heard everywhere. It was the only airport where we were greeted by a xylophone-based band of players soon after Ieaving the plane. So my memories of the Philippines are fond. The sadness comes from the various traumas the country has suffered both politically and from natural disasters. Being on the fringes of the ASEAN countries, it seems as if it is often, and wrongly overlooked by tourists and businessmen with eyes more towards the West or to nearby Australasia.

Singapore is a vibrant, young and prosperous country. Its port is the busiest in the world. The people seem to be looking forward to the future with confidence under their new leadership. While we were

158 0266-4012/92/02 0158-02 0 1992 8utt~~o~h-Heinemann Ltd

R.E. WIGGINS

there, Singapore was celebrating its 26th National Anniversary, and their flag was prominently displayed on both public and private build- ings. The recently introduced MTR underground transport system is inexpensive and efficient. The edges of the platforms are screened off by full-height glazing with doors which open opposite the trains doors after it has drawn into the station. A typical ride which would cost 70~ on the London undergound is about 3Op in Singapore.

The traffic flows well, part of the reason being the heavy cost of owning a car. Residents have to bid for a kind of road tax to be able to drive a car. It is just that, an auction with the highest bidder winning. The higher the cubic capacity of the car, the higher the cost. However, this cost is less if yolk only drive at weekends. Taxi drivers have to pay around f4000 just to put their car on the road.

Malaysia has become better known to the average UK car driver through its export of Proton cars built with the aid of Japanese know-how. The country itself is rich in natural resources and has a complex racial and religious mix. The state religion is Islam, but other creeds are guaranteed freedom of worship under the constitution. Industrialization is being encouraged by attractive terms for foreign investors.

Indonesia, which is the largest Muslin1 country in the world, has been referred to as the ‘tiger’ of South East Asia. Rich in oil, it has been identified as second only to the reunified Germany as a country meriting closer inspection by the international business community. Family and ethnic ties are particularly important aspects of Indonesian life where the population of 170 million is divided across nearly 14 000 islands.

Thailand has established itself with a significant voice amongst the ASEAN countries and, based on its natural resources and generally sound economic policies, the increase in its prosperity has been some- what more sustainable than others in the region. While those with an ear for languages might pick up a smattering of Malay or Indonesian, the musical sounding Thai language presents virtually insurmountable prob- lems. It is a requirement that computer software such as word proces- sors should handle the Thai script since documents such as Thai standards must be published in the indigenous language.

in just six weeks and with six countries to visit, I could only obtain a flavour of what each has to offer. Nevertheless, it has whetted my appetite and I shall certainly return whether for business or pleasure.

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