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Malaysia, Indonesia quarrel turns to music
Ary Hermawan and Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 09/05/2008 11:29 AM | Headlines
Close neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia, whose territorial and property rights disputes remain unsettled, are on the brink of yet another row.
The potential conflict revolves around a demand by the association of Malaysian music industry employees, Karyawan, to restrict radio broadcasts of Indonesian songs.
Karyawan head Ahmad Abdullah said the association planned to propose to the Malaysian Energy, Water and Communications Minister, Shaziman Abu Mansor, a broadcasting ratio of 90 percent Malaysian songs and 10 percent Indonesian.
"The association will accept an 80:20 ratio," Ahmad said, adding several Malaysian artists supported the move.
But a member of the eminent persons group of the Indonesia-Malaysia relationship, Pudentia, said Thursday that Malaysia was unlikely to be able to control the distribution of Indonesian songs because it was a matter of taste.
"It's a matter of like and dislike, and no one can force his or her taste on others," she said.
"If Indonesian songs are widely broadcast throughout Malaysia, this means people there are fond of Indonesian music."
The three top Malaysian radio stations -- Era FM, Hot FM and Suria FM -- air their own Indonesian music charts every Sunday morning.
Malaysian rock star Amy Search said radio stations would turn Malaysia into Jakarta every night by playing Indonesian songs until dawn.
R&B singer Glenn Fredly, whose self-titled album Glenn was awarded the Indonesian Best Album in the Malaysian Music Industry Award 2000, said he was not surprised by Malaysian musicians' demand, but reminded them they could not resist globalization.
"I think what they are trying to do is understandable, but, you know, music is about taste and you can't just change people's taste," he said.
"This is also part of globalization. They should have realized that."
Glenn said that if the Malaysian government granted the musicians' demand, the Indonesian government would have to work harder to help the ailing music industry, which has suffered recently because of widespread piracy.
Malaysia and Indonesia have been involved in various spats, ranging from sovereignty claims over a territory to the property rights to a song. The two are also bitter rivals in sports, particularly badminton.
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zam (not verified) — Tue, 10/21/2008 - 10:28pm
The dominance on Indonesian artistes on Malaysia radio isn't the only industry-related problem for Malaysia music business.
I wish to make a note about the use of non-Malaysia products onstage during concerts televised by RTM. I was watching a concert on TV, and I noticed the guitar players of the band using Marshall amplifiers. Now, Ceriatone is a company based in Kuala Lumpur, and it makes guitar amplifiers, the same or better in quality to Marshall. But the company has few sales in Malaysia, because Malaysian guitarists prefer to buy Marshall, instead of showing support for Malaysian business, and using Ceriatone.
RTM, as the official information portal of Malaysia, should be showing support for Malaysian business. The next time I see a concert on RTM, I would like to see the guitar players use Ceriatone instead of Marshall. I also want to hear and see more Malaysia artistes on Malaysia radio and TV.
Nik@Ceriatone says he's only sold less than 20 amps to Malaysia in 10 years.
The case for buying Malaysia music is becoming a serious issue, because it represents a lack of support for Malaysia products (by Malaysia) during a time when the global economy is rotting. Mass buying local cars for instance, has increased Malaysia in power. And the power of music must not be taken for granted, especially by musicians. Do you want Malaysia to be a global creative force in music? Now is the time. And it won't happen unless we nurture our music scene here in Malaysia.