Bendera - 'Invasion' postponed !

Indonesians who volunteered to go to war with Malaysia take part in a martial arts drill in Jakarta. (JG Indonesia)

WHEN the Royal Malaysian Navy’s biggest landing craft, KD Sri Inderapura, was ablaze at the Lumut naval base early Thursday morning, the twittering world was abuzz that the invasion had begun.

This was, of course, in reference to the so-called plan by Indonesia’s Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) plans to wage war with Malaysia.

Although their plans have been widely condemned by officials, the People’s Democratic Defense (Bendera) announced that they are ready to invade Malaysia and would start to dispatch volunteer vigilantes on October 9.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Bendera coordinator Mustar Nona Ventura said they would not be deterred.

“We will dispatch volunteers as we’ve scheduled. Nothing will stop us from doing it, including threats from the Malaysian National Security Council or the Indonesian Police.”

He said that around 1,300 volunteers would depart for Malaysia between October 9 and 22, including 50 medics.

“They will enter through pathways that will be unexpected for Malaysian security,” he said.

“Besides the volunteers, there are already 8000 Indonesian migrant workers [in Malaysia] who have committed to support what we do.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government does not take lightly the threat by Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera), but believes Indonesia will take necessary steps to contain the situation.

"We leave it to the good judgment of the Indonesian government to manage such things. It is their internal affair. I believe they understand and know best what to do.

"We hope something will be done so that our good relations will not be affected," he said.

Meanwhile, the Royal Malaysia Police have stepped up security at all entry points from West Kalimantan to Sarawak as a precaution following threats from the Indonesian extremist group to attack Malaysia.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh said patrols by the General Operations Force had been doubled, especially at the Tebedu and Serikin border posts and several illegal trails at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

Indonesia and Malaysia have the same kind of relationship that the UK and France have had for centuries: a little rhetoric here and there but nothing ever happens.

There's a continuing spat over maids, claimed that Malaysia's national anthem is a copy of an Indonesian song, accused Malaysia of entering its territorial waters when a warship went to Ambalat.

Indonesians are still smarting over a 2002 International Court of Justice decision which decided that two bits of barren rock called Sipidan and Ligitan belonged to Malaysia.

Several weeks ago, Indonesians noticed that a promotional video for Malaysia included an Indonesian dance in its "Malaysia, Truly Asia" campaign. They claimed that Malaysia was trying to steal tourists from Indonesia, and that Malaysia has no culture of its own to display.

Then there were calls to declare batik to be defined as an Indonesian craft.

Some Indonesians consider the whole of Borneo to be Indonesian territory and resent the fact that it is partitioned.

Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat ( Bendera ) claims that its mission is to "avenge all the wrongs done to Indonesia." It claims to have a slogan of "Kill Malaysians" and reportedly set up illegal roadblocks in parts of Jakarta last month, saying that they intended to "sweep our streets clear of Malaysians."

The group claims to have built a stock of Samurai swords and pointed bamboo poles, plus bows and arrows ready for their invasion of Malaysia.