Economic Survival, Moderate Islam Real Challenges For Malaysia, Indonesia

Shah Alam - Malaysia and Indonesia`s economic survival and their role as moderate Islamic nations are the real challenges facing the two neighbours, said Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

"The challenges in Malaysia-Indonesia relations are not about sovereignty over their territorial waters, Indonesian migrant workers, cultural issues such as the origin of the `Rasa Sayang` folk song, batik art.... but their future survival," he said in his address on the last day of the Malindo (Malaysia-Indonesia) Dialogue 2008 which began on Sunday, here.

The biennial dialogue between Malaysian and Indonesians youths was organised by the Malaysian Youth Council and Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia.

Khairy said between the 1970`s and 1990`s, Malaysia and Indonesia were among the most developed countries in the region and drawing a lot of foreign investments, but today both countries had to compete with China, India and Vietnam.

"So what should we do as Malay-majority nations with shared traditions and a shared past to ensure our survival? If we cannot guarantee our future survival, we will be left on the sidelines of economic globalisation."

He said Malaysia which had the purchasing power and Indonesia the market due to its over 200 million population was the axis for Asean`s economic growth, while the region with a combined population of 500 million was as an alternative market to China which had more than one billion people.

"Malaysia and Indonesia need to be a joint market, and not as one lower than the other. In fact, they should complement one another in the economic sphere," he said.

For instance, Khairy said, Malaysia had a certain edge like in the oil palm plantation industry while Indonesia had more expertise in the music and entertainment field and these could be shared to benefit both countries.

"Find what we can develop together, then we can progress together as a Malay race and Malay archipelago; then we can be true friends and neighbours."

Khairy also said that Malaysia and Indonesia, as moderate Islamic countries, should work together in promoting moderate Islamic practices.

"This is another challenge for us. The West is fond of linking violence and terrorism to Islam. So, what is our response? We must practise moderate Islam and show a moderate image of Islam to the world," he said.

On Malaysia-Indonesia relations, he said from what appeared on the blogsites in Malaysia and Indonesia, the views of the younger generation and grassroots on related issues could be quite disturbing.

He said among the oft-raised issues were the territorial rights over Batu Unarang (Ambalat), Indonesian migrant workers and culture like the origins of the "Rasa Sayang" song and batik.

"It is as though we have no similarities or good neighbourly spirit when in fact we do have historical, cultural and language similarities."

He said Malaysia had never refuted that "Rasa Sayang" or batik came from Indonesia as culture and arts were dynamic and they spread, hence the folk song and batik became part of Malaysian culture due to the migration of people within the Malay archipelago since long ago.

"Furthermore, nobody knows who the composer of the song was, so it has no copyright, unlike songs by The Beatles or Britney Spears.

"If we focus too much on cultural elements and quarrel over their origins, we will get nowhere," he said.
Source: www.bernama.com.my (9 Januari 2008)
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