Malaysia Denies Claims Tortor And Gordang Dances While In History Today, June 19, 2012

Tortor dance which incidentally performs ceremonial dances typical of North Sumatra. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA History today, 13 years ago, June 19, 2012, the Malaysian government denied the claims of Tortor and Gordang dances while the incident belonging to Indonesia. They said all of this was just a misunderstanding. Malaysia admits the two dances belong to Indonesia.

Previously, Malaysia was known to often claim several Indonesian cultures as its own. In the past, Malaysia had claimed to be Keris to the Pendet dance, now Malaysia has claimed the dance of Tortor and Gordang while as its own.

No one doubts that Malaysia and Indonesia come from the Malay family. A clump that refers to ethnic groups and hazards that have cultural and historical roots that are not much different. This condition creates many similarities between the two countries, especially those related to culture.

That basis makes Malaysia also claim that Indonesian culture is part of it. The list of claims is quite long. Malaysia once claimed batik, keris, Pendet dance, ulos, gamelan to angklung. Every claim made is of course getting criticism from the Indonesian people.

Malaysia is labeled as a country that has no identity. The creative spirit of its citizens is often questioned for being a claimer. Instead of being criticized by the Indonesian people, Malaysia immediately stopped. Malaysia continues to claim to be part of Indonesian culture.

Take the latest example when Malaysia is rumored to claim the Tortor and Gordang dances While the notabene of the typical North Sumatra (North Sumatra) dance includes Samosir to Mandailing. The issue of Tortor's dance claims brought a stir. Malaysia is said to be putting both dances into the 67th Anniversary of the 2005 National Heritage Deed.

A deed that confirms Malaysian culture. This condition created criticism. The Indonesian people are furious, not playing. The image of Malaysia as a cultural claimer was raised by the Indonesian people who were emotional.

"But on condition that periodic performances must be shown, meaning that dance must be shown, drumming is divided among performances in public," said Minister of Communication and Culture Information Datuk Seri Rais Yatim at the inauguration ceremony of the Mandailing Children's Association in Kuala Lumpur as quoted by the quarternews page, June 14, 2012.

The polemic of Tortor and Gordang dance claims is heating up. However, the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin tried to provide an explanation on June 19, 2012. He invited and the people's representatives especially the North Sumatra thread.

Syed immediately clarified the issue of claims of two Indonesian cultures. He emphasized that the Malaysian government denied ever making claims. The issue arose because of a misunderstanding.

The existing narrative is not in the recording of Tortor and Gordang dances While as Malaysian culture. However, the listing of cultures against ethnic groups is especially the Mandailing tribe in Malaysia.

"Malaysia admitted that there was a misunderstanding. It was not claimed to be the country's culture but only the proposed listing of cultural heritage owned by the Mandailing community in Malaysia, where this culture is from North Sumatra," said a member of the North Sumatra envoy DPR, Parlindungan Purba as quoted on this page.com, June 19, 2012.