Indonesian Government Protests Malaysian Media Using the Term Indon in History Today, February 2, 2011

JAKARTA - History today, 15 years ago, February 2, 2011, the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Kuala Lumpur lodged a formal protest with the Malaysian government over the use of the word Indon in the Malaysian online media: Berita Harian. The KBRI considers that the two countries have agreed to prohibit the use of the term Indon.

Previously, the phrase Indon was like forbidden words in Malaysia. This condition was because Indonesia protested because Indon had a bad connotation: a prostitute. The Malaysian government also made an official ban on the term Indon.

The relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia is full of dynamics. Sometimes the two countries show closeness and friendship. However, it is not uncommon for the two countries to have conflicts. A conflict does not have to be triggered by a big problem like a territorial dispute.

Conflicts can also arise due to matters of terminology. Take for example when Malaysians shortened the mention of Indonesia to Indon. The matter of terminology was a big problem in the 2000s.

Many Indonesians do not accept the term which is seen as a form of harassment and racism. All because in the Malay language Pontianak reveals the meaning of Indon is a prostitute.

As a result, when Malaysians use the term Indon, many Indonesians are upset. The Indonesian government does not want Malaysians to just call Indon.

The government wants Malaysia to continue to be a friendly country. As a result, the government protested the use of the word Indon officially in 2007. The protest was followed up well. The Malaysian government also issued an official ban on the use of the term Indon on May 24, 2007.

The presence of the ban is considered as a form of good intention of Malaysia to maintain friendly relations. However, the ban is only a directive, there is no legal sanction for those who still use the term Indon.

"If they still violate the directive, of course we will call them and give them another warning. Hopefully, this official appeal from the Malaysian Ministry of Information can be a firm reminder, because so far the Malaysian government itself has never used the words that are often used in the language of socializing in Malaysia," said Malaysian Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin as quoted by the ANTARA website, May 24, 2007.

The problem does not disappear. The nature of the prohibition which is limited to directions makes the term Indon again used. In fact, the term is not only used by ordinary Malaysians in various social media. The term Indon is still used by Malaysian media such as Berita Harian in sports newsDirty Tactics Indon on February 2, 2011.

The use of the term Indon made the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur angry. The owner of the power then submitted a formal protest to the Malaysian government on the same day. The protest was carried out so that the two countries had agreed not to use the word, especially in the mass media.

"We are disappointed and protest the use of the word 'Indonesian' because the two heads of state have agreed not to use the word, including in the mass media," said Head of Information, Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Suryana Sastradiredja, as quoted by the ANTARA website, February 2, 2011.