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scalating tensions between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur have made for big headlines in the local media, but one Malaysian journalist says bilateral relations will remain amicable.

Amy Chew, a Malaysian journalist who has worked in Indonesia for 12 years said: “Whatever negative comments come from Malaysia come from a small group of people.”

“They appreciate Indonesian culture, which they always praise for its sophistication. They also see Indonesia as a country of great economic potential, rich in culture.” Chew told The Jakarta Post.

She added that she had a memorable stay in Indonesia, which she attributed to exquisite batik, tasty food, amazing holiday destinations and the people’s “kindness, warmth and great sense of humor”.

“Throughout my entire 12-and-a-half years in Indonesia, all my Indonesian friends have been so good to me and have always gone out of their way to help me,” she said.

She added that her friends included fellow Indonesian journalists, whose humor kept her spirits high during long waits for news, and her regular motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver, who would watch her back when she covered tense demonstrations during the turbulent years from 1998 to 2000.

According to her, both Indonesia and Malaysia needed to make an effort to improve bilateral relations.

“Malaysia should be quicker in responding to incidents involving the two countries, whether to clarify or rectify, so that there will be no misunderstanding between the two countries,” she said.

“In Indonesia, the press can do a lot if they make an effort to do more balanced reporting and to report the other side,” she added.

According to Bunn Nagara, the associate editor of Malaysian newspaper The Star, the Malaysian government and media have adopted the stand that the recent tensions should not be “a very emotional issue”.

“Some government ministers have issued comments telling people to calm down and not react in an overly emotional way,” he said on Friday.

Malaysian news agency Bernama ran an article calling upon people to not play up anti-Malaysian demonstrations in Jakarta which were later proven to have been staged.

“At present, the government says that the demonstration by Bendera [People’s Democracy Fortress] were paid for by certain forces in Indonesia and do not represent the true feelings of Indonesians as a whole,” he told the Post.

Tension between the countries resurfaced after Malaysian authorities detained three Indonesian
officials, who had caught seven Malaysians fishing illegally in the Tanjung Berakit waters in Riau Islands province.

On Aug. 23, the National Police arrested three Bendera activists for throwing feces at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta during an anti-Malaysia demonstration.

Bunn added that Malaysians would be “watching and listening closely” for the results of a meeting between Malaysia’s foreign minister, Dato’ Sri Hj. Aman Anifah, and his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, scheduled for Monday in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

He said that Malaysians remained calm because they had other practical issues to tend to in their home country.

“I think people regret this kind of situation,” he said, adding that Malaysians in general harbored no negative feelings for Indonesians and hoped that calm would return between both countries as before.

It was highly beneficial, he added, when national leaders took responsibility for calming people down and inviting them to “stop and think” before reacting to issues.