Wednesday October 7, 2009
Put a stop to Malaysia-bashing
I DIDN’T know whether to laugh or cry when I read the article “Rebel outlines ‘invasion’ plan” (The Sunday Star, Oct 4) which reports on the threat by Indonesian rebels to ganyang (crush) Malaysia on Oct 8. The self-styled vigilante group calling itself Bendera detailed its planned invasion starting with towns in Borneo where Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak are located.
Attacking Malaysia armed with sharpened bamboo sticks and bullet-proof black magic? It is ludicrous and pathetic at best. This is the same group which set roadblocks in central Jakarta to “sweep’’ out Malaysians and pelted stones at our embassy in the capital city. Many looked like they should be in school or harnessing the excess energy in rebuilding their earthquake-hit town in western Sumatra.
Here we go again, helping them in all the disasters that strike their country. Our government is the first to offer condolences and the first to send emergency aid. Care packages were sent by the plane loads. Our SMART teams, Mercy and volunteers rushed to help in search-and-rescue operations and help with the reconstruction process. Our press are spear-heading donation drives for cash and kind.
But are our good deeds being appreciated? The “hate Malaysia” campaign started with the Manohara case, the bad treatment of maid Nirmala Bonat and the claim on the islands of Sipadan, Ligitan and Jemur. Petty things like “stealing” Indonesia’s cultural heritage like the Pendet dance, songs like Rasa Sayang and Burung Kakak Tua and even our food like rendang became issues.
The Indonesians have even taken the Malaysia-bashing internationally with hundreds posting comments involving Malaysia on forums in leading American newspapers. A sample from the Chicago Tribune when our first death from swine flu was reported: “Thank God. Malaysia is a cursed country. They die of a disease from the pig.”
What hurts the most was the aftermath of the bombing of Nordin Mat Top.
A top military brass emphasised three times to the CNN that Nordin was a Malaysian, and since Malaysia is claiming his body “it’s good; we will finally have peace.” Had he forgotten where Nordin was trained? Do we shout out about the murders and robberies committed by the illegal Indonesians here?
Our Information Minister and the Malaysian media took pains to do damage control by planning a muhibbah of sorts between the people of both nations. It should be initiated by their side too.
But we didn’t hear a squeak from the Indonesian leaders. Does silence mean consent or blessing? If it were our people conducting such hateful propaganda, our government will surely reprimand us.
Just can’t figure why we are dubbed arrogant based on Nirmala Bonat’s unfortunate case.
Most us have maids who have gone on the haj, own land, houses and fish ponds after working with us. We are feeding the 1.8 million Indon workers here and helping the Indonesian economy.
IDZAN ISMAIL,
Petaling Jaya.
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