Case study

Fadillah PutraLBJ School of Public Affairs

The Konfrontasi

• 1963, President Sukarno refuses the 'merger' between Malay and 2 other British colonies Sabah and Sarawak (in Borneo)

• 1964 war, Malay (backed by British and Australia) vs Indonesia - thousands of soldiers killed

• 1965, UN accepts Malaysia, and Indonesia withdraws from its membership in UN

• 1965, Suharto comes to power, Konfrontasi ended

Sipadan and Ligitan Islands

• Area has been long disputed between Malaysia and Indonesia

• 2002 dispute brought to International Court of Justice (ICJ), resulting in the islands being rewarded to Malaysia

• The reason was not only "effective occupation" principal but also Malaysia has more capacity to taking care the islands (esp environmental)

Ambalat

• 2005 Malaysia gives oil mining to Royal Dutch Shell

• Malaysia believes Ambalat area belongs to them because of Sipadan and Ligitan effect

• Indonesia's army ship (KD Renchong) and Malaysian (Tedung Naga) collided in the area

• Malaysia chased away Indonesian fishermen, Indonesia accused Malaysia of 35 violations of territory

• Ended with share the profit of oil concession

Economic gap and the impacts

• Malaysia's GDP per capita: $14,400 (63rd), Indonesia's GDP per capita: $4,356 (114th)

• According to Malaysian ambassador, there are about 400,000 illegal Indonesian workers in Malaysia

• According to Immigrant Labor Division Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, at least 1,000 Indonesian workers have been abused in Malaysia

• Illegal Logging and woods smuggling • Illegal immigrants, especially border

people ADB, 2007

Border Area

Cultural Similarities and Patent Problem

• “Rasa Sayange” and “Burung Kakatua” songs.

• “Rendang” (traditional food looks like beef curry)

• Reyog and Barongan (traditional dance)

• Angklung (traditional music instrument)

• Batik (traditional fabric)

Conclusion

• Indonesia and Malaysia have so many things in common, but that can not avoid (even create) conflict.

• Comprehensive bilateral agreement is needed esp. between neighbouring countries with huge economic gap

• Instead of inciting hatred towards Malaysia or overly promoting nationalism, Indonesian Government needs to provide good services and develop the border area

• There needs to be an agreement about how to protect cultural heritage -- based on state or nation?