Historians point to shared regional roots
TANJUNG PINANG (Indonesia), Oct 10 — Indonesia and Malaysia can ease tension which flared recently over cultural heritage by reminding their citizens that the two neighbouring nations share common cultural and historical roots.
Historians from Malaysia and Indonesia who met in Tanjung Pinang, the capital of Indonesia's Riau Islands province, have suggested that both sides could achieve this by launching programmes designed to help their two peoples better understand their similarities and cultural connections.
The academics were speaking at a three-day conference which was organised following a recent spat over Malaysia's alleged “theft” of Indonesian cultural heritage, ranging from batik to dances and songs.
The dispute between the two nations came to a head in August when it was misreported that Malaysia had screened tourism advertisements featuring the traditional pendet dance of Indonesia's Hindu-majority Bali island...
... The academics presented on topics related to bilateral relations.
It was attended by 100 participants and initiated by the Indonesian History Society.
Professor Zainal Kling, an anthropologist and sociologist from the University of Malaya, and Indonesian historian Sumarno of Universitas Negeri Surabaya, both agreed there should be Malaysian elements introduced in Indonesian schools' history books and vice versa.
Another recommendation the academics made to both governments was for a joint effort to write and publish an Indonesia-Malaysia history almanac.
Sumarno told The Straits Times: “This is so we can understand each other and this will therefore strengthen our relationship.” — Straits Times
Read entire article at The Malaysian Insider
Historians from Malaysia and Indonesia who met in Tanjung Pinang, the capital of Indonesia's Riau Islands province, have suggested that both sides could achieve this by launching programmes designed to help their two peoples better understand their similarities and cultural connections.
The academics were speaking at a three-day conference which was organised following a recent spat over Malaysia's alleged “theft” of Indonesian cultural heritage, ranging from batik to dances and songs.
The dispute between the two nations came to a head in August when it was misreported that Malaysia had screened tourism advertisements featuring the traditional pendet dance of Indonesia's Hindu-majority Bali island...
... The academics presented on topics related to bilateral relations.
It was attended by 100 participants and initiated by the Indonesian History Society.
Professor Zainal Kling, an anthropologist and sociologist from the University of Malaya, and Indonesian historian Sumarno of Universitas Negeri Surabaya, both agreed there should be Malaysian elements introduced in Indonesian schools' history books and vice versa.
Another recommendation the academics made to both governments was for a joint effort to write and publish an Indonesia-Malaysia history almanac.
Sumarno told The Straits Times: “This is so we can understand each other and this will therefore strengthen our relationship.” — Straits Times