2009 Pendet controversy explained

Pendet Dance Controversy
Partof:Indonesia–Malaysia relations
Date:August–October 2009
Place:Indonesia and Malaysia
Causes:Misidentification of the Pendet dance as Malaysian in a Discovery Channel advertisement
Status:Resolved with an apology from Discovery Channel
Result:Apology from Discovery Channel; tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia
Methods:Protests, diplomatic communication, calls for apology
Side1: Indonesia
Side2: Malaysia
Leadfigures1:Jero Wacik (Indonesian Minister of Tourism)
Leadfigures2:Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab (Malaysian National Security Council Secretary)
Notes:Indonesian ultra-nationalist groups organized anti-Malaysia protests, including symbolic "war" preparations

An advertisement for the Discovery Channel program Enigmatic Malaysia in 2009 featured Balinese Pendet dancers, wrongly identifying the Pendet dance as Malaysian. This mistake caused public outrage in Indonesia, leading to protests and requests for an apology from Malaysia.

Background

August 2009: Advertisement and Initial Reactions

The advertisement was created by a private company in Singapore for Discovery Channel’s *Enigmatic Malaysia* program.[1] The incorrect label of Pendet as a Malaysian dance caused strong reactions in Indonesia, where cultural experts, government officials, and the tourism ministry demanded Malaysia explain the mistake.[2] [3]

August 2009: Apology and Further Issues

The Malaysian government clarified that it was not responsible for the ad, and Discovery Channel later apologized, accepting the blame for the mistake. Indonesia’s tourism minister, Jero Wacik, however, rejected the informal apology over the phone, asking for a formal written apology to make it official.[4] [5]

Reactions

Late August 2009: Media and Public Outrage

Even after Discovery Channel’s apology, Indonesian news outlets continued to report the clip as a Malaysian government advertisement, increasing public anger. Indonesian ultra-nationalist groups, like Gemars, organized protests, collected supplies, and began military-style training for a “war” against Malaysia.[6] [7]

September 2009: Security Alerts and Bendera Threats

In response to these threats, Malaysia’s National Security Council secretary, Datuk Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab, directed Malaysian military and border patrols to tighten security. This was due to the nationalist group Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera), which had previously set up roadblocks in Menteng, Jakarta. The group threatened to “invade” Malaysia with 1,500 members carrying sharpened bamboo spears via air, land, and sea on 08/10/2009.[8] [9]

University Protests and Flag Burning

Several Indonesian universities saw protests where students burned Malaysian flags, including:

Diplomatic Communication and Security Assurances

The Malaysian Foreign Minister contacted the Indonesian ambassador to explain Malaysia’s concerns about the safety of Malaysian citizens in Indonesia. In response, Indonesian authorities, including the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, assured Malaysia they would protect Malaysians in Indonesia.[21]

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20140111221642/http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=435986 Google's cache-Discovery TV apologises for Pendet dance
  2. Web site: Discovery TV apologises for Pendet dance . 18 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090827104438/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36110-discovery-tv-apologises-for-pendet-dance-gaffe- . 27 August 2009 . dead.
  3. Web site: Protests over presence of Pendet dance in Malaysia's tourism ad continue . 2009-09-03 . 2009-09-03 . Niken Prathivi and Irawaty Wardany . The Jakarta Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20090829133013/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/23/protests-over-presence-pendet-dance-malaysia%E2%80%99s-tourism-ad-continue.html?page=2 . 29 August 2009 . dead .
  4. Web site: 2009-08-28. I Wayan Juniartha. Pendet, the dance that rocks the cradle. The Jakarta Post. 2009-09-03.
  5. Web site: 2009-08-27 . Indonesian Minister Rejects Malaysian Pendet Apology . Dessy Sagita . The Jakarta Globe . 2009-09-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090831160121/http://thejakartaglobe.com/national/indonesian-minister-rejects-malaysian-pendet-apology/326562 . 31 August 2009 .
  6. Web site: Relawan Gasak Malaysia Mulai Latihan Militer . 18 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721042827/http://www.tempo.co.id/hg/nasional/2005/03/08/brk,20050308-04,id.html . 21 July 2011 . dead.
  7. Web site: Nationalist Groups Collect Registrations For 'War' Against Malaysia . https://web.archive.org/web/20090907163706/http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/nationalist-groups-collect-registrations-for-war-against-malaysia/328214 . 7 September 2009. 7 September 2009 .
  8. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091007080352/Article/# New Straits Times - Security on alert for 'invasion'
  9. Web site: Police: Don't worry about Bendera's 'ganyang' threat . 11 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091010012243/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/39696-police-dont-worry-about-benderas-ganyang-threat- . 10 October 2009 . dead.
  10. Web site: Mahasiswa di Kalteng Bakar Bendera Malaysia, Polkam / Rabu, 2 September 2009 12:58 WIB . 3 November 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091005220049/http://www.metrotvnews.com/index.php/metromain/news/2009/09/02/2951/Mahasiswa-di-Kalteng-Bakar-Bendera-Malaysia . 5 October 2009 . dead .
  11. Web site: Ganyang Malaysia Diwarnai Bakar Bendera Dan Kesurupan . 3 November 2009 . 5 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090905034316/http://www.klikp21.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2293:gayang-malaysia-diwarnai-bakar-bendera-dan-kesurupan&catid=52:politik&Itemid=80 . dead .
  12. http://udinmduro.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/mahasiswa-bogor-bakar-bendera-malaysia/ Mahasiswa Bogor Bakar Bendera Malaysia
  13. Web site: Buntut "Pendet", Mahasiswa Banten Bakar Bendera Malaysia . 3 November 2009 . https://archive.today/20120712142252/http://oase.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/08/27/01543881/buntut.pendet.mahasiswa.banten.bakar.bendera.malaysia . 12 July 2012 . dead.
  14. http://lebihcepat.com/nasional/34-berita-nasional/4422-mahasiswa-banten-injak-injak-bendera-malaysia.html MAHASISWA BANTEN INJAK-INJAK BENDERA MALAYSIA
  15. http://www.media-indonesia.com/berita.asp?id=150062 Mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo Protes Malaysia
  16. http://m.infoanda.com/linksfollow.php?lh=BwQBUlNQUgcG Wednesday, 9 March 2005 - detikcom - Gambar Bendera Malaysia Dibakar di Depan Kedubes
  17. Web site: Radar Banyuwangi, Kamis, 3 September 2009, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia . 3 November 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315175211/http://www.jawapos.com/radar/index.php?act=detail&rid=112132 . 15 March 2016 . dead.
  18. http://m.infoanda.com/linksfollow.php?lh=BlBVCQUDVgdV Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
  19. http://m.infoanda.com/linksfollow.php?lh=BlBVCQUDVgdV Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
  20. http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2010/09/03/mahasiswa-untag-samarinda-bakar-bendera-malaysia Mahasiswa Untag Samarinda Bakar Bendera Malaysia
  21. Web site: PRESS STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF MALAYSIA ON SITUATION IN REPUBLIC INDONESIA.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2009 Pendet controversy".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.