Despite one or two causes of friction, Malaysia and Indonesia are nations that have a shared ancestry, as well as items of cultural heritage like pantun — four-line rhyming poetry.

Thus, like siblings, Malaysia on Wednesday invited Indonesia to embrace pantun as part of the world’s nontangible heritage during the former’s National Day celebration in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

Malaysia declared its independence from the British on Aug. 31, 1957, as the Federation of Malaya. Malaysia was proclaimed on Sept. 16, 1963.

“The year 2018 is unique as Malaysia and Indonesia together registered pantun as part of the world’s nontangible heritage with UNESCO,” said Zamshari Shaharan, charge d’affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, in his remarks.

Such a joint effort, he said, should be maintained to enhance and expand the close Indonesia-Malaysia relationship.

“The similarity of culture and history must be the basis and main foundation of our countries’ intimacy and efforts to become nations with a shared ancestry that is renowned and respected in the world,” he said, while reciting some witty pantun emphasizing the close bilateral ties.

The evening was also enlivened with performances of Malaysian dances and Indonesia’s dangdut songs.

This year, Malaysia celebrated its National Day with a theme of “Sayangi Malaysiaku”, literally translated as “I Love My Country, Malaysia”, he explained.

He said the theme reflected the diversity of society that was the country’s core foundation.

Nonetheless, 2018 was not a year without challenges for Malaysia as its “core values were tested”, he further said.

After 61 years, he said, Malaysia underwent a change “which was also an event that had never been seen or experienced since this nation was born”.

“Many call it ‘A New Dawn for Malaysia’ or simply the ‘New Malaysia but ‘the Doctor’ is definitely back in the house, steering our nation to achieve more success in the future,” he said, referring to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won Malaysia’s general election in June in a shock victory.

“We prevailed, the unity is intact and our resolve remains stronger than ever.”

Meanwhile, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, the event’s guest of honor, congratulated Malaysia and reminded both countries of their achievements in trade.

He said Malaysia was Indonesia’s second-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia at US$17 billion in 2017.

“Malaysia was also the eighth-largest source of foreign investment in Indonesia,” he said in his brief remarks, adding that both countries could achieve many more things in the future.

Earlier in the day, former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was arrested in connection with a deposit of 2.6 billion ringgit ($627.79 million) into his personal account and will be taken to court on Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement.

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