•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

A ring of Indonesian hackers on Monday claimed to have attacked scores of Malaysian Web sites, one more in a series of flashpoints threatening tenuous ties between neighbors.

The two countries have been embroiled in a string of spats over alleged misappropriation of cultural icons, reports of migrant worker abuse and territorial disputes.

A statement posted on a blog titled “Terselubung” says that a number of Malaysian Web sites had been hacked and defaced to “celebrate” Malaysia’s Independence Day, which was celebrated on Monday.

“Today, Aug. 31, 2009, an uncreative country, a country who likes to steal Indonesian culture, a country whose citizen is the mastermind of bombings in Indonesia, a country who has tortured many of our sisters — the migrant workers who worked there, a country who abused our national anthem, a country who harassed Indonesia on the Internet, a country that has stolen Sipadan and Ligitan islands, a country which has trespassed our water illegally, a country which received their independence from Britain, is celebrating its anniversary,” the Web site statement read.

“As good Indonesian citizens, we will celebrate their independence in our own way. We are celebrating by undertaking a mass attack on the country’s Web sites,” the statement continued.

The site then listed more than 120 Internet addresses, including domains for Malaysian education and tourism pages. But checks on a sample of the mentioned sites revealed only a few of them remained defaced, or that many had recovered from the attacks.

Official Malaysian sites were back to normal, and only a few private Web sites, including that of Leafyard, an Internet marketing company, still displayed the hacker’s message while others could not be opened for various reasons.

With the Indonesian national anthem playing in the background, the hacked Leafyard Web site was signed by M364tron and said: “One by one you take our culture, but we will not be silent. You will always be my main target.”

Teuku Faizasyah, spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, expressed “regret” over the move by local hackers and called on both sides to keep cool.

“I think they have responded in an inappropriate manner that will only harm both sides,” Faizasyah said. “We don’t believe that the attacks on Malaysian Web sites will to a larger extent disturb bilateral relations, but they could somehow lead to the psychological state of being irritated, so everyone must cool down.”

Musni Umar, an Indonesian member of the Eminent Persons Group, an organization of experts and former leaders from the two countries, said the hackers were overreacting and the incident involved only young people who tended to act emotionally instead of rationally.

“I’m not worried about today, I’m worried about when this younger generation takes their turn to lead this country with a bad impression toward their neighbor,” said Umar, who is also a spokesman for the EPG.

“Yes, we must do something about it. Bilateral communications must involve youths to help them understand the importance of maintaining good relations with our neighbor.”

Irritation with Malaysia boiled over again last week after allegations that a Balinese dance had been used to promote a television show about Malaysia, though it was revealed soon afterward that no Malaysian government agency had a role in making the advertisement.