JAKARTA: As ties between Malaysia and Indonesia can be delicate at times, the media should not inflame the situation and pit both people against each other, Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said.
Although he appreciated the freedom of the press here, he urged them to be accurate in their reports and not to incite polemics which could sour relations between both countries.
He cited the misunderstanding over a botched Singapore Discovery Channel advertisement clip depicting the Pendet dance of Bali, in which Malaysia was accused of stealing it as its cultural product.
“Malaysia had never laid claim to the Pendet dance and Discovery Channel had clarified on the mistake.
Down to diplomacy: Anifah (left) and his Indonesian counterpart Hassan responding to questions at a press conference at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Thursday. “So, I believe the issue should not be raised again,“ Anifah said at a joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda after a 90-minute discussion here yesterday.
Anifah also later met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace,
Anifah said both countries would continue to communicate on various issues and enhance relations through sports among officials and the exchange of cultural programmes among media practitioners.
Hassan said he believed the majority of Indonesians were rational and would not be misled by attempts to create animosity between the people of both countries.
“This is a complicated problem involving the vast media freedom in Indonesia.
Generally, in reality efforts to exploit the problem negatively and inaccurately is bound to fail,” he said.
On his meeting with President Susilo Anifah said the president looked forward towards collaboration in the palm oil industry in a bid to produce new sources of energy.
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