INDONESIAN PRESIDENT WANTS EPG TO ALSO TACKLE CULTURAL ISSUES

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
wants the Indonesia-Malaysia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to play its role in
mediating disputes including pertaining to copyright and cultural property.

Commenting on the controversy following claims that Malaysia had stolen the
Balinese dance of "Pendet" and used it in its tourism promotion advertisement,
Susilo said, "the EPG can function to handle issues like this."

"This is my hope in the spirit of safeguarding and taking care of our good
relations," he told a news conference.

He said that Indonesia and Malaysia had been able to handle various issues
including those concerning Indonesian workers which numbered around 1.8 million
in Malaysia.

He said that if Malaysia and Indonesia were able to handle the Indonesian
workers' issues, both countries should also be able to handle issues related to
copyright and cultural property.

On the video clip promoting "Enigmatic Malaysia" which was said to be
containing footages of the Pendet dance, Susilo said that the answer given to
Indonesia was that the advertisement was produced by a private company with
interest in Malaysian tourism promotion.

Deputy Head of Mission at the Malaysian Embassy here Amran Mohamed Zain has
denied that the Malaysian government was involved in the production of the clip.

Amran had also met Indonesian culture and tourism minister Jero Wacik to
clear the air over the matter.

It is learnt that a company based in Singapore, which produced the 30-second
clip, has written to Indonesia's culture and tourism minister to clarify the
matter.
-- BERNAMA