Friday September 4, 2009
Blame Discovery Channel, Indonesians told
By DHARMENDER SINGH
PUTRAJAYA: Stop blaming Malaysia. It was Discovery Channel which wrongly included a Balinese dance in a clip to promote a documentary series on the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the channel had clarified that it was the maker of the clip and apologised for wrongly showing the dance.
He added that the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Malaysia were in no way involved in the production of the promotional video that was aired by the Discovery Channel and they were unaware that the traditional dance from Indonesia had been used.
“The explanation by the Discovery Channel should be accepted and I hope the matter (protests against Malaysia for the use of the dance in the video) will not drag on,” he told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet committee meeting on tourism here yesterday.
Stressing a point: Muhyiddin responding to questions from the media at the press conference in Putrajaya yesterday. With him is Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Protests in Indonesia had reportedly been triggered by allegations that a Balinese dance had been used to promote a television show about Malaysia.
The protests included an incident on Tuesday where some 30 students pelted the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia with rotten eggs and attempted to raise an Indonesian flag at the gate.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was also at the press conference, said her ministry had contacted the Discovery Channel on the same day the video was aired requesting it set the record straight and the channel had acted promptly.
“Discovery sent a letter explaining the whole matter and apologising for the mistake to both the Malaysia and Indonesia’s tourism ministries,” she said.
On the outcome of the Cabinet committee meeting, Muhyiddin said among the decisions made was to create better coordination between the various tourism-related ministries and agencies to ensure promotions highlighted correct information while programmes reached the intended audience.
A committee comprising representatives from ministries, agencies and the private sector would be set up for this purpose.
Related Stories:
Indonesian govt not involved in protests, says Najib
Indonesian students pelt M’sian embassy with rotten eggs
News Poll
- Teacher held for oral sex on Year Two girl
- Lau sought psychiatrist’s help after death of fan’s dad
- Police shoot dead leader of ‘Berong Gang’
- Australian court sentences Malaysian who posed as taxi driver
- Teoh Beng Hock exhumed for second autopsy (Update)
- Foreign woman falls to death at high-end condo
- Prime Minister comes up with plan to end crisis in MCA
- 15-year-old held for trying to kill mum with acid-laced sarong
- Indonesia seizes 75tons of explosive material from M’sia
- Fresh polls in six to eight months if new mechanism used
- Australian court sentences Malaysian who posed as taxi driver
- Teacher held for oral sex on Year Two girl
- 10 states see increase in number of dengue cases
- AirAsia launches new flights to three Indian cities
- Teoh Beng Hock exhumed for second autopsy (Update)
- Lau sought psychiatrist’s help after death of fan’s dad
- Prime Minister comes up with plan to end crisis in MCA
- Take care of yourself first
- Police shoot dead leader of ‘Berong Gang’
- 15-year-old held for trying to kill mum with acid-laced sarong
RSS
