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Published: Monday September 28, 2009 MYT 2:41:00 PM

Indonesian Embassy scoffs at ‘war on Malaysians’ claims


KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian Embassy official here dismissed reports of vigilantes in Jakarta waging war on Malaysia on Oct 8.

The embassy’s counsellor for information, Widyarka Ryananta, said the report in the Jakarta Globe about a group calling itself Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) planning to invade Malaysia was “too ludicrous to respond to officially.”

Indonesian Ambassador Da’i Bachtiar was unavailable for comment as he was on his way back to Kuala Lumpur from Jakarta Sunday night.

The Daily Chilli on Monday reported that Bendera has amassed bows and arrows, samurai swords and bamboo spears for an invasion of Malaysia.

The group has managed to attract media attention and frenzied supporters with its war cry of “kill Malaysians” and was the same group that set up roadblocks at Menteng, the heart of Jakarta, to “sweep” Malaysians off the street recently.

“If there are any Indonesians planning to go to Malaysia for confrontation, they will be arrested. It would be impossible for them to enter Malaysia,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizashah said.

The Jakarta Globe quoted Bendera’s coordinator Mustar Bona Ventura as saying that over 1,000 volunteers had been recruited and another 300 were expected to sign up soon.

Bendera also claimed that 10 “spies” had been sent to Malaysia to conduct reconnaissance and draw up battle positions, adding that the strike would be launched by “air, land and sea.”

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