Rais: Indonesian media should not have exploited dance issue
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim added that the stand of the Indonesian media did not reflect that of the Indonesian Government.
“If any party feel that their culture or art was re-intepreted, they should not be emotional and burn the national flag or pelt the embassy with stones,” he told reporters after attending a craft promotion event.
Dr Rais was commenting on the controversy over the insertion of the Pendet dance in a promotional clip on Malaysia by Discovery Channel, which drew protests from the Indonesian public. The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta was also pelted with eggs.
On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia should not be blamed as Discovery Channel had wrongly inserted the dance in the clip.
Dr Rais said he would reply to a letter he had received from Indonesian Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik on the need to share views and find solutions to such disputes.
Dr Rais said his ministry would also propose to Wisma Putra that the matter be resolved through the Eminent Persons Group.
Blame Discovery Channel, Indonesians told
PUTRAJAYA: Stop blaming Malaysia. It was Discovery Channel which wrongly included a Balinese dance in a clip to promote a documentary series on the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the channel had clarified that it was the maker of the clip and apologised for wrongly showing the dance.
He added that the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Malaysia were in no way involved in the production of the promotional video that was aired by the Discovery Channel and they were unaware that the traditional dance from Indonesia had been used.
“The explanation by the Discovery Channel should be accepted and I hope the matter (protests against Malaysia for the use of the dance in the video) will not drag on,” he told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet committee meeting on tourism here yesterday.
Protests in Indonesia had reportedly been triggered by allegations that a Balinese dance had been used to promote a television show about Malaysia.
The protests included an incident on Tuesday where some 30 students pelted the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia with rotten eggs and attempted to raise an Indonesian flag at the gate.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was also at the press conference, said her ministry had contacted the Discovery Channel on the same day the video was aired requesting it set the record straight and the channel had acted promptly.
“Discovery sent a letter explaining the whole matter and apologising for the mistake to both the Malaysia and Indonesia’s tourism ministries,” she said.
On the outcome of the Cabinet committee meeting, Muhyiddin said among the decisions made was to create better coordination between the various tourism-related ministries and agencies to ensure promotions highlighted correct information while programmes reached the intended audience.
A committee comprising representatives from ministries, agencies and the private sector would be set up for this purpose.
Malaysia-Indonesia to meet over ‘vigilante squads’
The meeting in Jakarta takes place after newspapers reported that a group of Indonesians threatened to use sharpened bamboo on Malaysians using Jalan Diponegoro, a plush area in Menteng in the Indonesian capital.
Anifah told The Star that the Cabinet discussed the matter Wednesday and he was directed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to handle the matter.
“When I meet my Indonesian counterpart, I will express Malaysia’s concern and want assurance that the Indonesian authorities can guarantee the safety of Malaysians over there,” he said when contacted in Putrajaya.
Anifah said he would also summon the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Da’i Bachtiar, to express Malaysia’s concern.
Some groups in Indonesians have been expressing their anger by demonstrating in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta almost daily over the last few weeks. They pelted rotten eggs at the embassy building last week after Malaysia was accused of “stealing” the Balinese pendet dance in a promotion of Malaysia aired by the Discovery Channel.
The channel has apologised, saying it was at fault for using the dance in its promotional clip and that the Malaysian Government was not to blame.
Over the years, Kuala Lumpur has been accused many times of “stealing Indonesian culture,” includings its songs and dances.
i am truly unhappy with what had happened between this two neighbourhood countries.... sigh
3 comments:
yep..pity those malaysian students who are currently in indonesia. hope they are safe there.
now i am thinking GOD for making me studying in Malaysia.. hehe.
to frens out there, especially those who r studying in Indonesia.. pray to Allah always. semua tu ada hikmah kan =)
not thinking...thanking =)
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