News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Saturday October 10, 2009

Ignore Indonesian group, says minister

By LESTER KONG


PETALING JAYA: Don’t pay any attention to Indonesia’s Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera), advis-ed Indonesian Minister Counsellor for Information, Social and Culture to Malaysia Widyarka Ryananta.

“It is not an issue at all. There is no coverage of them at all in Indonesia.

“As long as we don’t mengapi-apikan (fan the fire) their action or intention, I don’t think they will do anything,” said Widyarka in response to reports that Bendera have postponed their planned “invasion” of Malaysia.

He was referring to Bendera’s plan to wage war on Malaysia in retaliation to Malaysia purportedly stealing Indonesia’s culture in the form of the Pendet dance and for the abuse of domestic maids working in Malaysia.

Widyarka went on to say that Bendera “was a very minor group” which did not garner any media coverage in Indonesia.

However, he assured that the Indonesian police was keeping an eye on the group but dismissed them as a minor nuisance compared to other more pressing issues such as the recent Padang earthquake tragedy.

Bendera coordinator Mustar Nona Ventura was reported saying that around 1,300 volunteers would depart for Malaysia between Oct 9 and 22, including 50 medical staff.

They have threatened to invade Malaysia through pathways that will be unexpected for Malaysian security armed with bamboo spears, samurai swords and other melee weapons.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll