THE news from Singapore was at first nothing special. It came from the stock exchange floor in the neighboring country last month, that Samko Timber Limited was attempting to sell its initial shares. Samko Timber is a holding company owned by Hasan Sunarko, Indonesia’s plywood king. The plan later caused a furor among market players because Putera Sampoerna turns out to be one of Samko’s owners.

His share ownership is significant. From the c