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Denpasar. Dozens of Balinese artists staged a demonstration on Saturday to protest against a Malaysian tourism advertisement suggesting the Balinese pendet dance was part of indigenous Malaysian culture.

The artists gathered in front of Denpasar’s Cultural Park, with Wayan Dibia of the Indonesian Institute of Arts leading the rally.

During the demonstration, he presented a written statement expressing the artists’ frustrations to Ida Ayu Agung Mas, a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

The dance is part of a welcome ritual performed by women in Balinese traditional costumes, but appeared in a “Visit Malaysia Year” advertisement. Dibia said the dance was a part of the cultural heritage of the Balinese.

“Based upon our observations, the dancers shown in the Malaysian ad were in fact two graduates from the Indonesian Institute of Arts in Denpasar, named Lusia and Wiwik. The footage was taken two or three years ago,” he said.

Dibia called on the government to make an inventory of artistic products and patent them so that they would not be easily claimed by other countries.

“The pendet dance is part of our cultural heritage that shows artistic values and cultural symbols exclusively part of Hindu-Bali cultural traditions,” he said.

Ida Ayu Agung Mas, meanwhile, expressed deep concern over the Malaysian advertisement. “As a people’s representative I support the protest and will immediately notify the Malaysian government about the case,” he said.

Antara