I started with being mildly amused by the suggestion that we should first inform the Indonesian authority every time we want to use anything associated with culture purportedly originating from what is today Indonesia. Thinking about it a bit more, I became quite annoyed – and then actually worked myself into a real state of utter disgust, feeling thoroughly incensed at the sheer audacity of the suggestion. And we talk about being “serumpun”! What BS. What double BS!
Can Malaysians of Bugis, Javanese, Sumatran etc. ancestries not claim their heritage and continue to practice them here? If they can, why can we not acknowledge that as part of the country’s many and varied cultural practices, no matter where they originate from? What if, say, a substantial number of Kadazans were to emigrate and settle down in, say, Tarakan or Pulau Bunyu (although I cannot imagine for a moment why they would want to do that) and bring along their Sumazau? Is Indonesia saying it cannot acknowledge this as one of the cultural practices of their people? And that if, in some way, they wish to do so, they will have to first inform the Malaysian government each time?
Stupid doesn’t even begin to describe the suggestion!
If we agree to this ridiculous and pompous suggestion, I suggest we also inform India, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, the Middle East countries, etc., etc. whenever we want to publicly perform anything originating from those countries. And once we get on to this slippery slope we might as well also inform the Portuguese Government whenever we want to have a Ronggeng display.
Kekwa oh Kekwa – what have we done that we should be so unflatteringly accused of stealing other people’s “flowers”? We have not, in our exuberance, tried to rename them all Kekwas on the quiet have we?
2 comments:
i think its unfair...if ur Malaysian but ur descendants are frm other region i think its alrite to be part of our culture but asking permission....hhhhmmmm!
maybe our people are doing more than them and so they are not happy because we are more recognised for their culture.
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