I am an indonesian citizen, but I have been staying quite long abroad after graduation. Because of my work, i often have to go overseas to attend conferences and meetings, mostly Europe and greater Asia. It is a great annoyance that I always require a visa. In fact, no single country outside ASEAN members who let indonesians to enter without visa, and under our passport, it’s almost a guarantee of longer visa processing times. Our country has a very bad images outside, for it is always flagged as ‘exceptional’ country. For comparison, Malaysians and citizens of brunei darussalam, also muslim countries, do not need visa for most part of the world.
Beside the simple annoyance, my dissapointment was added when I was offered scholarship from european government twice, in undergraduate and graduate. They gave bond-free scholarship, but expected me to go back to contribute to Indonesia. hence, they contacted indonesia’s ministry of education to endorse my scholarship and to sign a contract guaranteeing my return. To my surprise and dismay, the ministry of education refused and said that they won’t ever need expert in my area…
My passport expired a few years ago, and due to the super slow help from Indonesian embassy, my passport expired and I could not travel outside my country of residence.
My disappointment and frustation just leave me toying with idea of giving up indonesian citizenship some day…
I found your blog while browsing the internet. noticing that you are studying in singapore, and that you are active in an indonesian student’s union, perhaps you are sharing the same sentiment, or, i hope, the contrary of mine, that you are meeting good ends because of the indonesian passport. I will be glad if you do, and perhaps you wouldn’t mind to share with me.
One response to Indonesia-NTU Student Community (PINTU) Site
Hi,
I am an indonesian citizen, but I have been staying quite long abroad after graduation. Because of my work, i often have to go overseas to attend conferences and meetings, mostly Europe and greater Asia. It is a great annoyance that I always require a visa. In fact, no single country outside ASEAN members who let indonesians to enter without visa, and under our passport, it’s almost a guarantee of longer visa processing times. Our country has a very bad images outside, for it is always flagged as ‘exceptional’ country. For comparison, Malaysians and citizens of brunei darussalam, also muslim countries, do not need visa for most part of the world.
Beside the simple annoyance, my dissapointment was added when I was offered scholarship from european government twice, in undergraduate and graduate. They gave bond-free scholarship, but expected me to go back to contribute to Indonesia. hence, they contacted indonesia’s ministry of education to endorse my scholarship and to sign a contract guaranteeing my return. To my surprise and dismay, the ministry of education refused and said that they won’t ever need expert in my area…
My passport expired a few years ago, and due to the super slow help from Indonesian embassy, my passport expired and I could not travel outside my country of residence.
My disappointment and frustation just leave me toying with idea of giving up indonesian citizenship some day…
I found your blog while browsing the internet. noticing that you are studying in singapore, and that you are active in an indonesian student’s union, perhaps you are sharing the same sentiment, or, i hope, the contrary of mine, that you are meeting good ends because of the indonesian passport. I will be glad if you do, and perhaps you wouldn’t mind to share with me.
A frustated physician.