Malaysia's Claims On Indonesian Culture Annoy Megawati In Today's History, 26 June 2012

Megawati Soekarnoputri, who served as President of Indonesia from 2001-2004. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA History today, 13 years ago, June 26, 2012, former President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri was furious with the Malaysian action of claims of Tortor and Gordang dances While as her culture. Megawati called for a total government against Malaysia. If necessary, fight all over.

Previously, Malaysia was known as the maker of Indonesian cultural claims. His latest action was a claim on the dance of Tortor and Gordang while from North Sumatra. This claim raises criticism from all Indonesian people.

All Indonesian people never forget the image of Malaysia as a country that claims culture. This condition is because the neighboring country often claims Indonesian culture. They consider Indonesia, which in fact is a Melayu family, certainly produces the same culture.

This condition made them just claim that Indonesian cultural arts such as batik, keris, pendet dance, ulos, and gamelan. Malaysia's claim action did not stop. Their latest claim action is the dance of Tortor and the art of Gordang While from North Sumatra.

The art wants to be immortalized by Malaysia as part of its culture. Malaysia is said to be putting both dances into the 67th Deed of National Heritage in 2005. A deed that confirms Malaysian culture.

That desire brought big problems. The Indonesian side did not accept it. Criticism arose from everywhere. Image of Malaysia as a cultural claimer in the air. National politicians one after another criticized.

They asked the Indonesian government to take a stand. The goal is that cultural claims do not occur in the future. However, the Malaysian government responded to the anger of the Indonesian people on June 19, 2012.

They then invited the people's representatives to clarify the matters of claims for Tortor and Gordang dances while. Malaysians believe that the claim was just a misunderstanding. Malaysia has recorded the culture of the Mandailing ethnicity 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.

Malaysia's apology is considered insufficient. Megawati Soekarnoputri spoke up. He considered the bad habits of Malaysian cultural claims to continue. The government was asked to take firm action.

Megawati even emphasized that the government must defeterate on June 26, 2012. If necessary, fight with Malaysia. The narrative is so that similar incidents do not happen again.

Megawati also regretted the government for not patenting many Indonesian cultures. Finally, when there are claims from other countries, they just dizzy themselves.

"Don't just talk. Do it. If you want to fight, yes, we will fight (with Malaysia). It will be taken by Malaysia, then we will go berserk. Not from the start (enabled)," Megawati said as quoted by versus tempo.co, June 26, 2012.