INDONESIA OH INDONESIA!

‘Bully- thy neighbour’ seems to be the right slogan for Indonesia, in the light of the recent attack on the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.

In the incident, demonstrators led by the People’s Defence of Democracy (Bendera), has claimed responsibility for burning the Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang and throwing human faeces into the Malaysian embassy compound.

As in the past, Indonesians took to the streets and launched anti-Malaysia campaigns, with protests initially staged against the infrequent Indonesian maid abuse in Malaysia. Emotionally-charged Indonesians vented their anger against Malaysia over almost anything.

Similarities in culture, language and religious customs should make Malaysia and Indonesia good neighbours.

But long-running spats over everything from territorial boundaries to cultural ownership of culinary dishes, dances, instruments and even Malaysia’s national anthem, have over the years hampered ties.

As of 2009, there were nearly two million Indonesian workers in Malaysia, including 800,000 illegals and that 300,000 were employed in the manufacturing sector.

As Malaysian authorities were preparing to send illegal Indonesians home, thousands others were waiting to make their passage, legally or illegally, in search of job opportunities here.

The latest demonstration, which included a threat by Bendera to send home Malaysians in Jakarta after shaving their heads, was supposed to be sparked by our maritime border dispute.

Bendera supporters had also threatened to “sweep” Malaysians from Indonesia. Anti-Malaysia demonstrations in Jakarta, Medan and Pekan Baru took place soon after the arrests of three Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Ministry officials on Aug 13.

Indonesia should take action against this group -- coincidentally acronymed Bendera, which means flag -- which showed disrespect towards Malaysia. Malaysians have been tolerant towards every uncivilised action from its people without any retaliation.

In the latest incident, Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has ruled out an apology over the Aug 13 incident, saying that Malaysia had acted within the law when the authorities arrested the Indonesians.

Yes, Datuk Seri, we should be firm and not let our neighbour have the upper hand.

We have tolerated all these years over their bullying tactics and the time has come for them to stop their ‘acts of terrorism” against their own neighbour, and observe and practice good neighbourliness, in the true spirit of Asean brotherhood.