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
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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