Friday, September 17, 2010

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.

The Indonesian and Malaysian leaders
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

1 comment:

  1. We are sharing same culture, same religion..We should unite.Not fighting each other..The cooperation between us can profit us..

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