Edwin Soeryadjaya Quotes
If you don't pay bribes, people think you're odd. It's very sad. I cannot say that I'm proud to be an Indonesian. This is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Studwell, Joe. Asian Godfathers: Money and Power in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007.
This is a common rejoinder of third world country leaders to accusations of Western democracies about corruption. And doubtless it is true. However temptation has never been a good defense of improper behavior.
The House Majority Leader Tom Delay, with a history of ethics violations, got caught in some very serious ones and convinced the House majority leadership to change the rules of the Ethics Committee to prevent the minority from initiating any investigations or inquiries. The Ethics Committee was the only House committee that has an equal number of majority and minority members and before this change, either side would initiate an inquiry.
Abramoff had bribed over 100 Congressional offices by a combination of campaign donations, paid golf junkets all over the world, free elegant meals at his own fancy Washington Restaurant, free tickets for the Congressmen, their staffs and their major constituents, to Concerts and sporting events including his own Skyboxes, and promises of future employment at very high salaries. Ironically, we was convicted of cheating some of his lobbying clients and did a jail term, but his “bribery” was technically usually legal. In addition to Abramoff, only one Congressman was charged and convicted of corruption, when many if not most had engaged in these corrupt practices. Congress makes the rules with loopholes so that what is bribery and corruption in any other setting is often not against the law if Congress is involved.
He warns particularly of politicians who believe their own lies.
Edwin Soeryadjaya also known as Tjia Han Pun is a Chinese Indonesian businessman, He is the son of the late William Soeryadjaya, who founded automotive group Astra International. Soeryadjaya set up investment firm Saratoga Investama Sedaya in 1998. Today, through his private equity firm, PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya, he holds an ownership in coal miner Adaro Energy. He also has a stake in cell tower company Tower Bersama Infrastructure and bought Mandala Airlines in 2011 with his partner Sandiaga Uno.
