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Ministry Asks ‘Why Now?’ To Malaysian Anthem Row
Anita Rachman | August 30, 2009

A member of the Jakarta community of handicapped people declaring “Ganyang Malaysia,” or "Crush Malaysia,” a movement once touted by Sukarno, at the PDI-P office in Central Jakarta. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG) A member of the Jakarta community of handicapped people declaring “Ganyang Malaysia,” or "Crush Malaysia,” a movement once touted by Sukarno, at the PDI-P office in Central Jakarta. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG)
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Sapodilla
9:31am Sep 1, 2009

Thank you for the wishes Edet.

I too can't help but feel that there are elements out to antagonise these two countries. Perhaps to sell more newspaper or to gain higher TV ratings? Who knows what their agenda is.

I understand the feeling of Siaktoh completely, I too am hurt by what I read and hear. But if I may suggest to him/her do not try to generalise Indonesians. It is such a large country with diverse ethnic background and freedom of media is higher than in Malaysia, so many get to have different opinions published. I see you have many good points to argue but please try to do it in a less emotional manner and win the other readers over!

edet
5:38pm Aug 31, 2009

Happy Independence Day Malaysia,we wish you all the best.


Valkyrie
5:28pm Aug 31, 2009

Can we start with Metro TV who apparently is the main media station airing antagonisms on a daily basis, especially during prime time?

Metro TV's belligerence on this issue is so obvious. Their presenters pontificate with apprehensive emotions, perhaps like Mark Anthony after Caesar's assasination. Mark Anthony succeeded in inciting mob riot and I sincerely hope that same is not on

Metro TV's agenda.

fido dido
4:08pm Aug 31, 2009

1 percent out of 230 million means there are still more than 2 million Indonesians who want to ganyang Malaysia! On a serious note, I think this whole cultural theft issue is being blown out of proportion and exploited by certain segments of the society i.e. the sensationalistic media and opportunistic politicians. What is lacking is the search for common understanding and answers between the two countries. Only if the media and the powers-that-be have enough sense to do a campaign to educate the public about this issue (and bring the rising temper down). The Indonesian public must realize that it's being hoodwinked by these xenophobic media and politicians to deflect its attention from the real problems at hand: unemployment, corruption, Islamic radicalism, etc.


edet
3:44pm Aug 31, 2009

if negaraku is terang bulan,so what?!! Let them have their national anthem and proud of it,we should stop this fuss!! It's goin too far, it's ok to be proud of your country but does not make us entitled to insult our malaysian neighbour,let them claim our song ,dance,food or whatever because that show how deep our cultural influenced them,let them have it !..

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday urged people not to waste their time commenting on claims that Malaysia had stolen its anthem from Indonesia, after a record company based in Solo said the song was suspiciously similar to the Indonesian tune “Terang Bulan.”

“We have never bothered about the Malaysian anthem since the 1960s, so why now?” ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said.

The deputy head of the mission at the embassy, Amran Mohamed Zain, had little to say when contacted by the Jakarta Globe in a telephone call.

“There is nothing for us to comment on,” he said

Ruktiningsih, the head of record company Lokananta, had said that “Terang Bulan” was a keroncong song that had been written by the Bandung Ensemble and first recorded by Lokananta in March 1956 — before the then-British colony of Malaya became independent on Aug. 31, 1957. The state was incorporated with other colonies to form Malaysia in 1963.

Separately, Musni Umar, a spokesman for the Indonesia-Malaysia Eminent Persons Group, said on Sunday that the group was concerned over the claim about the national anthem.

The spokesman said it was particularly worrying that this latest cultural sensitivity cropped up in the wake of this month’s controversy over the use of the pendet , a Balinese dance, in promoting a television show on Malaysia, although it was eventually revealed that no agency of the Malaysian government had any role in this.

The pendet was featured on the Discovery Channel in an advertisement.

“However, let us not keep this tension high,” Musni said. “If we are willing to think clearly, it is not a big deal that as national peers, we might take something from each other.”

The ministry’s Teuku said that for years, no one in Indonesia had said anything about the origin of the Malaysian anthem being suspicious.

He said people should also be aware that “Terang Bulan” itself might have some similarity in tune to another song from a foreign country.

There have been some arguments that the melody of the song was originally composed by a French lyricist, Pierre-Jean de Beranger.

Faizasyah said that he had not heard of any comment on the issue from the Malaysian government.

“It’s the weekend. I haven’t received any updates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Culture and Tourism spokesman Turman Siagian said that following the controversy over the pendet dance, the ministry had sent an official letter to Malaysia asking it to stop claiming any cultural properties that had not originated in that country.

“It was an official and strong request and that’s including anything from our cultural heritage, including songs,” he said.

“I hope people understand that the government is trying its best to save our heritage.”

Protests have historically followed several claims of Indonesia’s cultural heritage being appropriated by Malaysia and its people.