FOR MALAYSIA, PENDET DANCE ISSUE CONSIDERED RESOLVED

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

BANDUNG, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The issues over Malaysia claiming the Pendet
dance and Pulau Jemur to promote tourism, proven to be without basis, are
considered resolved with the explanations from the Malaysian government and the
Indonesian administration.

Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia head of chancery Raja Reza Raja Zaib Shah, in
stating this, said about 6,000 Malaysian students at 13 accredited universities
in Indonesia no longer have to be worried about anti-Malaysia sentiment spread
by Indonesia mass media.

"For us and for all the students here, the two issues are regarded
completely closed and no longer have to be given attention. This is because the
allegations were not true as Malaysia has never claimed the Pendet dance which
originated from Bali," he said at an Aidilfitri gathering for over 200 medical
students at Universiti Padjajaran here Wednesday.

On the Pulau Jemur case, Raja Reza said as explained by Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman and his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda, there are
three islands with the same name, including one owned by Malaysia in Selangor
waters.

He said the two ministers at a joint press conference in Jakarta last
Thursday had stated that the Indonesian mass media did not consider all the
facts before writing reports which stirred anti-Malaysia sentiment.

He also advised students to give full attention to their studies and act as
the country's representatives in promoting friendly relations between Malaysia
and Indonesia.

Malaysian Students Department in Indonesia director Dr Junaidi Abu Bakar
said the Malaysian students had shown their maturity in not reacting to the
negative reports in the Indonesian mass media.

"The majority of Indonesians who are rational have high regard for patience
shown by Malaysians in facing the allegations which in the end have been proven
to be untrue," he said.

At the gathering, the Malaysian students put up cultural performances to
celebrate the festive occasion with other students of various races.

-- BERNAMA