Malaysia-Indonesia ties must be preserved

KULIM: The close relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia must be preserved not only in the field of economy but also among the people, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

On the recent anti-Malaysia demonstrations in Jakarta, he said the Indonesian Government has to ensure the safety of Malaysian investors in that country as what the Malaysian Government would do for its citizens here.

“We do not want deplorable incidents to mar the existing good relationship,” he said after handing over Hari Raya aid to more than 50 veterans, disabled and poor at the Kampung Air Puteh surau in Junjong near here on Saturday night.

Mukhriz did not rule out that the recent demonstrations in Jakarata had been organised by third parties who were jealous of the close relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Source from: Bernama

Malaysia and Indonesia try to mend ties

With Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Malaysia for a fence-mending visit with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the BBC's Jakarta correspondent Karishma Vaswani looks at what has soured relations between the two countries in the first place.

Steps apart - the Indonesian and Malaysian leaders in Kuala Lumpur

It was a Malaysian tourism advert on television, broadcast around the world, that prompted the latest outburst of anger in Indonesia.

The Discovery Channel advert contained a clip of a traditional Indonesian dance, the Balinese pendet dance, and Indonesians felt that Malaysians had stolen their culture - an allegation that is often levelled at the country by its neighbour.

Discovery - the makers of the commercial - apologised. But the episode highlighted the tempestuous relationship that exists between Malaysia and Indonesia on a range of issues - from territorial disputes to problems with migrant workers.

It wasn't always like this. There was a time when some in Indonesia and Malaysia floated the idea of a pan-Malayan region, a powerful geographical entity that would span the two countries, encompassing both populations.

After all, the two nations have so many things in common. They share a history, a similar language, the same religion - even similar food.

So what changed?

Most analysts say the trouble began in the 1960s, soon after both nations won their independence from colonial powers.

Source from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8355417.stm

Stop Fighting

I would like to comment on Malaysia and Indonesia crisis.I think we better stop fighting.Why not we cooperate between our country.Why always we suspects each other?Stop doing this.Some of our people have relationship.They are a lot of people that work in both country.

The cooperation of us profit each other.Malaysia get workers from Indonesia and people in Indonesia also got work in Malaysia. In this case we are helping each other.The cooperation between us important to our both country economy.

We should ignore the issues between both countries.I think this issues just sensational by media to provoke us.

Regards to people in both countries..