Text your say: Cultural dispute

Your comments on Malaysia’s plan to recognize the Tortor dance and the gondang sambilan instrument from North Sumatra as part of its national heritage:

What a shame. In the near future all of Indonesia’s dances, including jaipongan and musical ensembles will be claimed as their cultural heritage.
Cucu Perwira
Purwakarta, West Java

Anybody who has spent time in Malaysia will know how barren their cultural background is. Let them have the dances as long as they agree to acknowledge they came from Indonesia each time they are used. They need them more than Indonesia does.

Steve
Jakarta

Don’t blame Malaysia. The Indonesian government has never paid attention to our culture.

Robert
Cikarang, West Java

Malaysia lacks a true cultural heritage, despite its “Malaysia Truly Asia” tagline.
Indra

Let’s claim the Petronas twin towers in return.
Wilson

At least those tricky Malaysians haven’t claimed credit for those other great Indonesian cultural creations. The Education and Culture Ministry must be suffering from relevance deprivation syndrome. In the modern era, neither country can claim a Noble Prize, unless you count Ramos Horta and Bishop Belo from East Timor.
John

Isn’t it time that Indonesia and Malaysia acknowledged their mutual origin instead of bickering about these trivial issues? That also includes the sharing of heritage.
Jorith Arbier

Oh my God, there are more important things to concentrate on. Let them claim whatever they want. It is more important to erase poverty, unemployment and concentrate on free education for all and so on.
Hero

My father’s ancestors came from Java in 1911 and my mother’s ancestors came from Tanah Minang in West Sumatra in 1874. They brought along their families, foods and culture to a place called Tanah Melayu. Where was Indonesia and Malaysia?

Now I am known as a Malay because I speak, read and write the language. What’s the big deal?
Ariff Ariffin

First of all, most if not all of the culture here is Hindu/Buddhist, so please don’t go around telling everyone that it is Indonesian. Speaking of which, these cultural traditions date back hundreds of years to Sriwijaya/Majapahit, so it can’t possibly be Indonesian, since Indonesia did not exist then.

Second, the archipelago, including the Philippines and Malay states, exist, so any Javanese, Mandailing or Bataks living in these lands have as much right to their own cultural heritage as anyone.

Third, one can’t steal “culture” — it’s a notion that is both inane and juvenile. Please grow up, read history and act like mature adults before mouthing off like xenophobic fools.
Wraptor

Melayu people originated from North Sumatra as did the language. The Tortor dance is not Melayu as it belongs to the Batak’s people, who are not Malaysians.
James

Maybe Bahasa Indonesia should be called Malay.
Syarwan Ahmad

Don’t you have anything better to do?
Mizani

The government must respond to this issue as soon as possible.

I agree with Mr. Agus Hermanto in terms of recording all of Indonesia’s cultures before they are claimed by other countries.

We should empower all of the “real” Indonesian culture.
Teg Sup

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