2009 Pendet controversy

In 2009, an advertisement promoting the Discovery Channel program Enigmatic Malaysia featured Balinese Pendet dancers, incorrectly identifying Pendet as a Malaysian dance, leading to anger in Indonesia.

The advertisement was shown by a private company in Singapore for a Discovery Channel programme on Malaysia.^[1] This prompted protest in Indonesia.^[2][3] Demands were made from the local governments, cultural historians as well as the tourism ministry in Indonesia for Malaysia to clarify the situation.^[4] The Malaysian government offered their apologies for the mistake done by the company, which was rejected by the Indonesian tourism minister Jero Wacik since the apology was given informally by phone, he demanded a written apology to make it more accountable.^[5]

The Malaysian government says it was not responsible for the advertisement,^[6] and later said that Discovery Channel sent an apology letter to the two countries, which said that the network was responsible for the advertisement.^[7]

Many Indonesian editorials and news stories continue to report that the offending clip is a Malaysian government advertisement despite Discovery's Singapore official apology.

Indonesian ultra-nationalists held anti-Malaysia demonstrations. The group Gemars^[8] began a registration for war against Malaysia and has stockpiled food, medicine and weapons including katanas and shurikens.^[9] A group of armed men set up road-blocks to check for Malaysians on a Jakarta street before police contained their activity. The group later dispersed itself without finding any Malaysians.^[10] Malaysian students of Gadjah Mada University in Special Region of Yogyakarta had rotten chicken eggs thrown at them by local undergraduates.^[11]

The Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia was contacted by Foreign Minister of Malaysia to express Malaysia's position on the issue that has resulted in the deterioration of the bilateral relations of both countries. The Ambassador of Indonesia has contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia as well as the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, who have assured that necessary measures will be taken to ensure the security of Malaysian citizens in Indonesia.^[12]

The National Security Council secretary, Datuk Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab have instructed all Malaysian borders, which were manned by the military, had been tightened and enforcement agencies have been told to gear up for any possibility of members of the group penetrating Malaysian shores. This is in response to Indonesia's Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera, "People's Democracy Fortress) threat to wage war by sending 1,500 troops – armed with sharpened bamboo – to Malaysia by air, land and sea on 08/10/2009. The group is the same one which had set up roadblocks in Menteng, Central Jakarta last month, in search of Malaysians.^[13][14]

List of Indonesian universities where students conducted the burning of Malaysian flags

• University of Palangka Raya^[15]
• Pakuan University^[16][17]
• Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University^[18][19]
• State Islamic Institute (IAIN) of Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin, Banten^[19]
• Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo^[20]
• University of Indonesia^[21]
• STIAMI Higher School^[21]
• August 17 University of Banyuwangi^[22]
• Sunan Giri University^[23]
• Riyadlotul Mujahidin Islamic Institute^[24]
• August 17 University of Samarinda^[25]

References

1. Google's cache-Discovery TV apologises for Pendet dance
2. . Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
3. Niken Prathivi and Irawaty Wardany (3 September 2009). . The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
4. I Wayan Juniartha (28 August 2009). "Pendet, the dance that rocks the cradle". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
5. Dessy Sagita (27 August 2009). . The Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
6. INDONESIA URGED TO RESOLVE MISUNDERSTANDING OVER PENDET DANCE^{[permanent dead link]}; Darshini Kandasamy (25 August 2009). . Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
7. "Tourism Ministry Malaysia Received Apologise Letter From Discovery TV Network". Bernama. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
8. . Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
9. Nationalist Groups Collect Registrations For 'War' Against Malaysia 7 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine; http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Calls+for+%E2%80%98war%E2%80%99+in+Indonesia-Malaysia+dance+spat&id=MzE1MDk=^{[permanent dead link]} Calls for 'war' in Indonesia-Malaysia dance spat]
10. Armed Indonesian Nationalists Block Road In Hunt for Malaysians 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
11. Attacks on Malaysians in Jakarta the work of small group.
12. PRESS STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF MALAYSIA ON SITUATION IN REPUBLIC INDONESIA
13. New Straits Times - Security on alert for 'invasion'
14. . Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
15. . Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
16. . Archived from the original on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
17. Mahasiswa Bogor Bakar Bendera Malaysia
18. "Buntut "Pendet", Mahasiswa Banten Bakar Bendera Malaysia". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
19. MAHASISWA BANTEN INJAK-INJAK BENDERA MALAYSIA^{[permanent dead link]}
20. Mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo Protes Malaysia^{[permanent dead link]}
21. Wednesday, 9 March 2005 - detikcom - Gambar Bendera Malaysia Dibakar di Depan Kedubes
22. . Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
23. Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
24. Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
25. Mahasiswa Untag Samarinda Bakar Bendera Malaysia