ID :
132092
Thu, 07/08/2010 - 23:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/132092
The shortlink copeid
News Focus: INDONESIANS ADVISED TO SEE MALAYSIA IN "RATIONAL PERSPECTIVES"
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, July 8 (ANTARA) - Despite the recurrent tales of maltreated Indonesian domestic helpers in Malaysia, the neighboring country's alleged aggressive intentions regarding Ambalat and its inclination to infringe on some of Indonesian cultural heritage rights, the Indonesian public has been urged to look at Malaysia in "rational perspectives."
The call to see relations between the two countries in more rational perspectives also wants Indonesians to treat Malaysia as they would any other friendly country. The old tendency to regard Malaysians as being of the same racial and cultural stock had to be abandoned as it was no longer relevant in the present era, according to Dr Alfitra Salim, a political analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, at a review of a book titled "What do you want, Malaysia" here on Thursday.
It was an undeniable fact that Malaysia and Indonesia happen to have many things in common in culture, language and traditions but they also differed in many respects.
By looking at relations with Malaysia in rational perspectives, it would perhaps become easier to settle the hot disputes that arise between the two nations from time to time, he said.
For example, the issue of Ambalat has to be settled immediately without procrastination. The sooner the problem is resolved, the better.
"Don't let the younger generation of Indonesia settle the unfinished homework of their ancestors. If we continue to procrastinate, and pass it on unsolved to the younger generation, it is feared it will eventually become the seed of a dispute or conflict which may result in war," he said.
Hence, it is much better to settle the issue in a rational manner without taking into account the two nations' common Malay roots, he opined.
As a matter of fact, according to Alfitra, Malaysia is in the process of trying to find its own national identity after experiencing a decline in nationalism among its citizens of different races.
This could be seen from the banners and slogans at public places propagating the principle pf "One Malaysia." This is certainly an indication of a condition that the neighboring country was currently in process to find a national identity.
"Why could it be like that. The fact is that their government is currently active in campaigning for a strong feeling of nationalism in the sense that Malaysians had to be proud of being Malaysians not only in the context of their citizenship, but also in the use of their own language," he said.
"What is happening at present in Malaysia is a pride to use English among their people. This could be seen if we happen to be on a train. Malaysians of Chinese descent are reluctant to sit beside those of Malay and Indian descent," said Denuk Christiastuti, the writer of the book "What do you want, Malaysia."
"They also do not want to use the Malay language because in their mind Malay is outdated and an unpopular language," she said.
In addition, Malaysia is currently confronted with such latent danger with the existing lack of nationalism among their citizens just because of the racial difference between Malays and members of the population groups of Chinese and Indian descent.
"This is actually a reality of nationalism which has yet to be established. Luckily this condition has also inspired the leader of the neighboring country to campaign under the slogan of One Malaysia," Genuk said.
According to her, Indonesians had to change their paradigm in seeing Malaysia in many respects from one Malay root in the relations between the two countries.
"Just see the relations with that country from the real perspectives not only as a partner, but also as a competitor," she stressed.
It is in the context of two countries' relations, Alfitra who gained his Ph D title from the National University of Malaysia further said let similar root of Malay descend run affected, but anything different should remain unchanged.
To that end, Alfitra said, better news stories by journalists had to be further disseminated in depth reports and try to avoid a sequence of the story in their news report.
By seeing Malaysia in more rational perspectives, old feelings of revenge after the loss of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia should no longer grow in the future among Indonesians.
In the meantime, another speaker, Asro Rokan Kamal, said the preservation of relations between the two nations should be a priority. The problems that had appeared to the surface should not become a source of conflict.
"But, we have to see them in a more rational manner without taking into account the aspect of our common Malay roots. Consequently, feelings of dislike and revenge can be prevented," he said.
For example, if Malaysia claimed the Pendet dance as part of its culture, it was something natural as the country was in the process of finding its national identity.
Malaysia claimed Pendet as part of its culture due to the fact that it was expecting to get more recognition.
To face this case, Asro said, the Indonesian people should not be too overactive in responding to it. Hence, in this case, the media in Indonesia has been called on not to exploit this issue that may hurt the feelings of our Malaysian brothers.
Therefore, both Alfitra and Asro said, journalists had a big chance to make the relations between two countries run harmoniously by providing the public with indepth reports rather than with fragmented or individual statements.
Journalists could blow up trivial cases to become a tense issue that may provoke the people to take the law into their own hands. Hence, the two speakers called on journalists to give priority on the importance of preserving harmony with the neighbor.
(T. E002/B/HAJM/19:10/S012)
Jakarta, July 8 (ANTARA) - Despite the recurrent tales of maltreated Indonesian domestic helpers in Malaysia, the neighboring country's alleged aggressive intentions regarding Ambalat and its inclination to infringe on some of Indonesian cultural heritage rights, the Indonesian public has been urged to look at Malaysia in "rational perspectives."
The call to see relations between the two countries in more rational perspectives also wants Indonesians to treat Malaysia as they would any other friendly country. The old tendency to regard Malaysians as being of the same racial and cultural stock had to be abandoned as it was no longer relevant in the present era, according to Dr Alfitra Salim, a political analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, at a review of a book titled "What do you want, Malaysia" here on Thursday.
It was an undeniable fact that Malaysia and Indonesia happen to have many things in common in culture, language and traditions but they also differed in many respects.
By looking at relations with Malaysia in rational perspectives, it would perhaps become easier to settle the hot disputes that arise between the two nations from time to time, he said.
For example, the issue of Ambalat has to be settled immediately without procrastination. The sooner the problem is resolved, the better.
"Don't let the younger generation of Indonesia settle the unfinished homework of their ancestors. If we continue to procrastinate, and pass it on unsolved to the younger generation, it is feared it will eventually become the seed of a dispute or conflict which may result in war," he said.
Hence, it is much better to settle the issue in a rational manner without taking into account the two nations' common Malay roots, he opined.
As a matter of fact, according to Alfitra, Malaysia is in the process of trying to find its own national identity after experiencing a decline in nationalism among its citizens of different races.
This could be seen from the banners and slogans at public places propagating the principle pf "One Malaysia." This is certainly an indication of a condition that the neighboring country was currently in process to find a national identity.
"Why could it be like that. The fact is that their government is currently active in campaigning for a strong feeling of nationalism in the sense that Malaysians had to be proud of being Malaysians not only in the context of their citizenship, but also in the use of their own language," he said.
"What is happening at present in Malaysia is a pride to use English among their people. This could be seen if we happen to be on a train. Malaysians of Chinese descent are reluctant to sit beside those of Malay and Indian descent," said Denuk Christiastuti, the writer of the book "What do you want, Malaysia."
"They also do not want to use the Malay language because in their mind Malay is outdated and an unpopular language," she said.
In addition, Malaysia is currently confronted with such latent danger with the existing lack of nationalism among their citizens just because of the racial difference between Malays and members of the population groups of Chinese and Indian descent.
"This is actually a reality of nationalism which has yet to be established. Luckily this condition has also inspired the leader of the neighboring country to campaign under the slogan of One Malaysia," Genuk said.
According to her, Indonesians had to change their paradigm in seeing Malaysia in many respects from one Malay root in the relations between the two countries.
"Just see the relations with that country from the real perspectives not only as a partner, but also as a competitor," she stressed.
It is in the context of two countries' relations, Alfitra who gained his Ph D title from the National University of Malaysia further said let similar root of Malay descend run affected, but anything different should remain unchanged.
To that end, Alfitra said, better news stories by journalists had to be further disseminated in depth reports and try to avoid a sequence of the story in their news report.
By seeing Malaysia in more rational perspectives, old feelings of revenge after the loss of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia should no longer grow in the future among Indonesians.
In the meantime, another speaker, Asro Rokan Kamal, said the preservation of relations between the two nations should be a priority. The problems that had appeared to the surface should not become a source of conflict.
"But, we have to see them in a more rational manner without taking into account the aspect of our common Malay roots. Consequently, feelings of dislike and revenge can be prevented," he said.
For example, if Malaysia claimed the Pendet dance as part of its culture, it was something natural as the country was in the process of finding its national identity.
Malaysia claimed Pendet as part of its culture due to the fact that it was expecting to get more recognition.
To face this case, Asro said, the Indonesian people should not be too overactive in responding to it. Hence, in this case, the media in Indonesia has been called on not to exploit this issue that may hurt the feelings of our Malaysian brothers.
Therefore, both Alfitra and Asro said, journalists had a big chance to make the relations between two countries run harmoniously by providing the public with indepth reports rather than with fragmented or individual statements.
Journalists could blow up trivial cases to become a tense issue that may provoke the people to take the law into their own hands. Hence, the two speakers called on journalists to give priority on the importance of preserving harmony with the neighbor.
(T. E002/B/HAJM/19:10/S012)
