Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta Condemns Parody of Indonesian Anthem

KOMPAS.com – The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has strongly condemned a video uploaded on YouTube reportedly by a Malaysian national, which parodied the Indonesian national anthem "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia).

The video, uploaded by a YouTube account called My Asean, provoked outrage from Indonesian netizens since it was uploaded two weeks ago. They included singer and former Parliament legislator Anang Hermansyah and YouTube influencer Lutfi Agizal. 

“The [Malaysian] authorities will take firm action according to [Malaysian] laws, if the video uploader is proven to be a Malaysian citizen,” said the Malaysian Embassy in a press release on Monday, December 28.

The embassy’s statement comes a day after the Malay Mail media outlet reported that Malaysian authorities will investigate the controversy.

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The Indonesian Embassy in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur called for the Indonesian public to remain calm.

“We understand if [the Indonesian public] is outraged. After all, [Indonesia Raya] is our anthem, and we have a lot of respect for it,” Indonesian Embassy official Yoshi Iskandar said to Kompas.com.

“The Indonesian people should not be provoked by the parody. [The Indonesian Embassy] has reported the controversy to the Royal Malaysia Police or Polisi Diraja Malaysia, so we should give the Malaysian authorities a chance to investigate the matter.”

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The Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information are also investigating the parody.

“The Indonesian National Police are still investigating the Indonesia Raya controversy, at least to determine [the perpetrator’s] location or locus delicti,” said Indonesian National Police spokesman Inspector General Argo Yuwono. “The new Cyber Police unit will handle the investigation.”

The parody of "Indonesia Raya" featured altered, vulgar lyrics to the national anthem, as well as changing the Garuda eagle, the symbol of the Indonesian state, with a chicken. Kompas.com has yet to find the video on YouTube during a search of the website today.

(Writers: Danur Lambang Pristiandaru, Ardito Ramadhan | Editors: Danur Lambang Pristiandaru, Krisiandi)

Sources: 

https://www.kompas.com/global/read/2020/12/28/162433270/malaysia-kecam-video-parodi-lagu-indonesia-raya-berjanji-luncurkan?page=all#page2. 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/28/16255211/polri-selidiki-parodi-lagu-indonesia-raya-yang-viral.