In 2005 when the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Istana in Jakarta, the then MYC president Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo said to the Indonesian president, "We can select our friends but we cannot select our neighbours".
During that time it was at the height of the Ambalat maritime block claim dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. The Ambalat sea block has been a point of contesting claims between these two countries due to the existence of oil and natural gas under the sea bed.
The love hate relationship between these "sebangsa and serumpun" (same race and same roots) countries has been going on for many years. The climax of all was when the then Indonesian president Sukarno launched the Confrontation against Malaysia in early 1960s when the idea to set up Malaysia was being finalised. Sukarno battle cry "Ganyang Malaysian" (Crush Malaysia) was translated into the attack of the Tebedu police station in Sarawak on 12 April 1963 and the landing of Indonesian paratroopers in 1964 in Labis, Johore which were captured or killed the Malaysian and Commonwealth armed forces. The Confrontation with skirmishes and fire power battle between Malaysian and Commonwealth join forces against Indonesian troops and supporters especially in Sarawak lasts until mid 1966 after Sukarno was swept from power in a coup led by General Suharto in March 1966.
The Indonesian just could not leave any opportunity to pick on Malaysia based on the slightest issue - real, perceived or self hallucination. The claims on unfair treatment of Indonesian maids, stealing of their songs and dances, export of terrorists, Malaysian companies causing the annual haze in Indonesia and the Sipidan, Ligitan and Ambalat territorial claims are some of the list of issues raised by Indonesia in their continuous and extended "Confrontation" with Malaysia.
The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta must be one of the most defensive embassy amongst all the Malaysia's embassies all over the world. Sited in one of the busiest area in Jakarta, the embassy will be the focus of the Indonesian students and demonstrators whenever they have any bones to pick with Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia must have lost count the number of Jalur Gemilangs already burnt in front of the embassy gate by the Indonesian demonstrators. So far there is no report mentioning any burning of Indonesian flag Sang Saka Merah Putih in front of the Indonesian embassy at Jalan Tun Razak either by any political party youth wing or any other Malaysian protestors.
Malaysians especially those in the political arena are known to protest against any other government on the slightest provocation or perceived interference in Malaysian affairs or showing disrespect to Malaysian leaders. These protesters will even demonstrate against injustice of one country on another country. At one time Umno Youth leaders even protested and gate crashed into a meeting discussing the situation of the then East Timor which was seeking separation from Indonesia. The protestors were actually supporting the Indonesian government and the then Indonesian Ambassador openly shown his appreciation to these protestors who are said to be his serumpun and sebangsa.
When the annual haze from Indonesia began to become a regular visitor to Malaysia and causing extreme discomfort and increasing risks of sickness due to the haze, the Malaysian government spends millions in sending fire fighters and other support to put out the hazardous fire in Indonesia. What Malaysia got in return was not a big thank you but the claims that the haze were caused by Malaysian-owned plantation company in Indonesia. Indirectly Indonesia are saying they are unable to run their country well as they can't even take matters in their hands in ensuring these companies follows the law of the land. Maybe the rule of law is not so persuasive in comparison to the rule of man and money. In the end Malaysia got more than what she can bargain for when these sebangsa and serumpun firemen came back firefighting with respiratory problems and skin diseases due to over exposure to the toxic haze.
When the Indian Ocean Tsunami happens on 26 December 2004, the disaster caused hundreds of thousands of lives to perished and loss of billions of dollars. Acheh in Indonesia was greatly hit by this natural disaster and more than 130,000 lives were lost in Indonesia alone with about half a million people displaced. Even though Malaysia was also hit by the tsunami, Malaysians and the government took the necessary actions to provide assistance to the Indonesian people suffering from the disaster. Millions of dollars worth of food, drinking water, medical supplies, tents, body bags and body cloth (kain kapan) for Muslim deads, machineries, building materials and contruction of houses and schools for the displaced victims. These are the things that those from the Malaysian side of the sebangsa and serumpun did for their counterparts in Indonesia after the tsunami.
Now after the Padang earthquake recently, Malaysian reacted instantly by raising funds to help the Indonesian victims. The Malaysia government sent in their C-130 plane loaded with foodstuffs for the victims. What Malaysia got in return? Instead of open hands in praise and appreciation of their serumpun and sebangsa for helping out in times of need, the plane was pelted with stones and Indonesian immigration officers still wants to charge exit tax on Malaysia medical students in Padang who lost everything during the earthquake. On top of that, there are this so called Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) people who wants to "Ganyang Malaysia" with sharpen bamboo and sticks! What else can be said of these sort of ungrateful flag burning people of the so called same rumpun! What are the actions taken by the governments of both countries against these enemy of the state that create tensions and promote violence and terrorism? Just half hearted and a slap on the hand warning.
If this is the type of neighbour that we are forced to have because we have no other choice, we will be much better if they just leave us alone.
Why didn't the government review diplomatic ties with Indonesia and build perimeters all along the Kalimantan borders and provide heavy sentences on any illegal Indonesian immigrants who dares to cross the Straits of Malacca and set foot in Malaysia. Maybe placing them in a Pulau Bidong liked island just like how the Malaysian government treated the Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s can be a deterrence since other methods failed to stop these illegals from becoming a threat to national security by snooping into the country again and again. To protect the nation's security, stop the recruitment of maids and foreign workers from Indonesia whom are specially targetted by "Bendera" as their frontline in their planned "invasion" of Malaysia . There are still many foreign countries who are neither serumpun nor sebangsa who will be more than happy to sent their people to work in this country peacefully.
But then the powers-that-be in the government will never ever thought of that as these people's mentality is just like a little brother with inferiority complex who is always subservient to the big brother, even if the big brother is obnoxious, arrogant and having self pity.
We can have friends everywhere and friendly to everyone but we don't have to submit to a ridiculous and big brother attitude neighbour. - Loka
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