2009 Pendet controversy

Pendet Dance Controversy
Part of Indonesia–Malaysia relations
Pendet dancers from Bali, Indonesia
Date	August–October 2009
Location	Indonesia and Malaysia
Caused by	Misidentification of the Pendet dance as Malaysian in a Discovery Channel advertisement
Methods	Protests, diplomatic communication, calls for apology
Status	Resolved with an apology from Discovery Channel
Parties
Indonesia  Malaysia
Lead figures
Jero Wacik (Indonesian Minister of Tourism) Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab (Malaysian National Security Council Secretary)
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:

• University of Palangka Raya[10]
• Pakuan University[11][12]
• Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University[13][14]
• State Islamic Institute (IAIN) of Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin, Banten[14]
• Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo[15]
• University of Indonesia[16]
• STIAMI Higher School[16]
• August 17 University of Banyuwangi[17]
• Sunan Giri University[18]
• Riyadlotul Mujahidin Islamic Institute[19]
• August 17 University of Samarinda[20]

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]

References

1. Google's cache-Discovery TV apologises for Pendet dance
2. "Discovery TV apologises for Pendet dance". Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
3. Niken Prathivi and Irawaty Wardany (3 September 2009). "Protests over presence of Pendet dance in Malaysia's tourism ad continue". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
4. I Wayan Juniartha (28 August 2009). "Pendet, the dance that rocks the cradle". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
5. Dessy Sagita (27 August 2009). "Indonesian Minister Rejects Malaysian Pendet Apology". The Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
6. "Relawan Gasak Malaysia Mulai Latihan Militer". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
7. "Nationalist Groups Collect Registrations For 'War' Against Malaysia". 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009.
8. New Straits Times - Security on alert for 'invasion'
9. "Police: Don't worry about Bendera's 'ganyang' threat". Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
10. "Mahasiswa di Kalteng Bakar Bendera Malaysia, Polkam / Rabu, 2 September 2009 12:58 WIB". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
11. "Ganyang Malaysia Diwarnai Bakar Bendera Dan Kesurupan". Archived from the original on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
12. Mahasiswa Bogor Bakar Bendera Malaysia
13. "Buntut "Pendet", Mahasiswa Banten Bakar Bendera Malaysia". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
14. MAHASISWA BANTEN INJAK-INJAK BENDERA MALAYSIA^[permanent dead link‍]
15. Mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo Protes Malaysia^[permanent dead link‍]
16. Wednesday, 9 March 2005 - detikcom - Gambar Bendera Malaysia Dibakar di Depan Kedubes
17. "Radar Banyuwangi, Kamis, 3 September 2009, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
18. Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
19. Monday, 26 November 2007 - detikcom - Berang Reog Ponorogo Dijiplak, Mahasiswa Bakar Bendera Malaysia
20. Mahasiswa Untag Samarinda Bakar Bendera Malaysia
21. "PRESS STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF MALAYSIA ON SITUATION IN REPUBLIC INDONESIA".