Najib turns blind eye to anti-Malaysian protests

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani (The Malaysian Insider)

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 2 - Datuk Seri Najib Razak played down today anti-Malaysian protests the past few days by Indonesians in Jakarta, insisting the apparent strain would not affect ties between the two countries.

Yesterday, Indonesian television showed a group of students from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta protesting against the presence of Malaysian students and burning the Malaysian flag.

Today, Indonesian students reportedly pelted the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta with rotten eggs. They also tried to raise an Indonesian flag at the embassy gates.

The latest attack was sparked by apparent anger over a belief in Indonesia that Malaysia’s national anthem had been copied from an Indonesian song, Terang Bulan.

The protests come on the back of the recent controversy over a Balinese dance being used to promote a satellite television show about Malaysia.

“The president SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) has told me that he wants a close and friendly relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia. The president also calls me personally about any issues regarding the two countries,” Najib said today.

But, despite the prime minister’s remarks, it has been apparent that Indonesia-Malaysia ties have been strained in recent months, especially over the Ambalat issue.

Indonesia claimed that Malaysian warships had entered the Ambalat area in the Sulawesi sea in early June.

Soon after that, Indonesia also stopped allowing its citizens from being sent to work as maids in Malaysia after reports of abuse by Malaysian employers.

***What is this, adding more tension after the Ambalat issue.

Being "serumpun" and so many similarities between these two "friendly" neigbors, naturally people from the West will have wonderin' thoughts why these is happening again after the Confrontation back in the 60s?

I hope our generations will be able to live by side with one another instead of always "playing with fire."

The world is big enough for all of us. Go find your own playground.***
SDass