This remark by Malaysia’s Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister raises interesting questions such as:1. Who’s a Malay? (There is the Malaysian Constitution definition, popular usage in Indoneia and a fascinating account and discussion initiated by Michael Chick here)
2. What then of the concept of the Malay Archipelago? Is it political, ethnographic, cultural, what?
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I think the 14 red-white strips in Malaysia Flag were similar with the Majapahit naval flag which has 9 strips.
Strategically, Malaysia may look forward to seeing Indonesia subdivided into smaller independent countries, so that she can propose alliance with such countries to locate Indonesia in the middle. One of the country could be Maluku or Papua.
Indonesia has been the strongest neighbour. It will need some strategy to beat it. I reckon in the future South East Asia may become a considerable dangerous region in the world. If people/govt in both countries never resolve this kind of issue or always create new issues.
If the world sees the SEA as a dangerous region, no tourism campaign will be successful.
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Malaysia has around 24 millions population while Indonesia has over 200 millions.
Indonesia is undergoing changes to the better since post Soeharto era, though quite slowly at the moment. Later, She might pick up “speed & momentum” just like China & India. With the rich natural & human resources, more democratic but less religious fanatic like Malaysia, I’m sure Indonesia will progress & overtake Malaysia in a very near future.
While here in Malaysia (my own country), we are regressing. There are less foreign investment, less freedom of speech, main media controlled by government, no free public forum, more religious fanatics, more racial polarization, more corruption, tainted judiciary etc… How sad that we have come to this stage. It is totally rotten.
Malaysia talk about Malay Archipelago? If it is political, then Malaysia is too ambitious & is dreaming.
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help…. my post did an mia…. 😦
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Unspun 
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