The Indonesian culture once again is claimed by Malaysian, the latest news, Balinese pendet dance is showed at Malaysian culture campaign ad that broadcasted by international cable television Discovery Channel, the Malaysian authority said that the ad is made by private company called KRU.Discovery channel-home based Singapore was sent apology to Indonesian Governement through electronic email towards ministry of heritage and culture. In the other hand the minister of heritage and culture Jero Wacik didn’t so interested with that email, he thought its so simply disappointing ,he wants discovery channel publish the formal apology on media, but later discovery channel made “apology broadcast’ that confirms Balinese Pendet dance belongs to Indonesia not Malaysia ,the show is broadcasted in 30 minutes.
The main issue about stealing culture is blowed by Indonesian local media, no wonder Indonesian media is powerful and have their of magnificent propaganda for Indonesian that well known as nationalistic people. When Reog Ponorogo or in Malaysia called barongan blowed up ,the Indonesian protestors who most of them is Reog dancers and local artists filled up the Malaysian embbasy in Jakarta and they forced Malaysian ambassador to went out to give speech regarding the dispute.
Malaysia has much energies to steal Indonesian cultures, after Rasa Sayange, the Mollucas folk song , Reog Ponorogo and continues with Batik,Keris,Wayang (all of them are javanese heritage’s), but Indonesia may proud when UNESCO announced batik as Indonesian national heritages and officialy will launch in October 2nd 2009.
As Indonesian, I may angry with my neighbour behavior that acts like a thief. My cultures are so precious ,and Malaysia have no right to steal it from us.We are rich in cultures and heritages,no offence but Malaysia is have nothing except Malayan culture that unfortunately brought by Indonesian malay-ancestors from Riau and Minang (West Sumatera) both of them are Indonesian provinces that located in Sumatera that very close to Malayan peninsula which separated by Malaka Strait.
In internet forum those cases are became interesting topic that Indonesian-Malaysian can assault each others. If malaysian forumers attacked by seriously charge like “Steal” and “ Have No Culture” they will mention racism word like Indonesia is Hindus Country,although we are the most populous moslem in the world ,beside that Islam and Hindu is peacely living in Indonesia.We have no problem that Indonesian ancestors and some people follow Hindu or Islam , in past Indonesia have biggest Hindu kingdom in southeast asia, called Majapahit (based in East Java) that have rule in all south asian territory include Malayan peninsula, Phillipiness, Thailand and Vietnam, in another religiously-age of Buddha,Indonesia have the great Buddhist kingdom of Sri Vijaya (Sriwijaya) which have great rule up to Burma and Southern China.
Pratama Tribune 