RI NOT PROTESTING BUT ASKING MALAYSIA FOR CLARIFICATION

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 25 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is not protesting but only asking for a clarification from the Malaysian government about a Malaysian tourism promotion advertisement showing Balinese 'pendet' dancers, an Indonesian official here said.

"This is not a protest note but a letter requesting a clarification from the Malaysian government," Ketut Wiryadinata, a special emissary from Indonesia's culture and tourism ministry, said here Tuesday at the Indonesian embassy before handing the letter to Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Dai Bachtiar.

Wiryadinata arrived in Kuala Lumpur with three letters, one addressed to Malaysia's tourism minsitry, one to Malaysia's culture and information ministry, and one to the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

"Jero Wacik, Indonesia's culture and tourism minister, wants to have an official explanation from the Malaysian government on the pendet dance performance in the Malaysian tourism commercial which was televised on the 'Discovery Channel'," Wiryadinata said.

After receiving the letters, Ambassador Bachtiar immediately contacted Malaysian Information and Culture Minister Rais Yatim and made an appointment for a meeting as the latter had been informed beforehand there would a letter from Jakarta.
Wiryadinata then also distributed copies of the Malaysian tourism commercial titled "Enigmatic Malaysia" to several Indonesian journalists in Kuala Lumpur.

The clip was made by Malaysian production house KRU Sdn Bhd as part of a documentary serial screened at an event called "The Melakan Portuguese - Preserving Their Heritage." The serial included other clips titled "Bajau Laut-Nomad of The Sea", "Keris The Myth & The Magic" and "Kellie's Castle - Myth and Mystery", also "Batik" and "Wau".***