Indonesian tempers flare at Malaysia over YouTube parody of national anthem

The video, purportedly from a Malaysian user, twists the lyrics of the anthem and insults Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo

It is the latest episode in a rivalry that occasionally blows up over everything from food to culture and sports

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A screenshot of the video insulting Indonesia's national anthem, purportedly posted by a Malaysian user. Photo: YouTube

Published: 8:00pm, 28 Dec 2020Updated: 8:44am, 29 Dec 2020

Indonesians are up in arms over a viral video on YouTube that insults the country’s national anthem – one that was purportedly posted by a Malaysian user, underlining the love-hate relationship between the two Southeast Asian nations.

Tempers flared when the video, entitled “Indonesia Raya Instrumental (Parody + Lyrics)”, in the Malay dialect of the language both countries share, went viral over the weekend. It was originally posted two weeks ago by an account named “MY Asean”, which used a Malaysian flag as its profile picture.

The video twisted the lyrics of Indonesia’s national anthem, for example from “Indonesia my motherland” to “Indonesia my misfortune”.

Another verse contained a reference wishing ill upon Indonesian President Joko Widodo, while there was also an offensive pun on the name of the country’s founding father, Sukarno, who in the 1960s declared a Ganyang Malaysia, or “Crush Malaysia”, campaign following the country’s formation.

It also changed Indonesia’s emblem from the Garuda, a mythical giant bird, into a frightened chicken, while superimposed in the background were pictures of a child urinating on an Indonesian flag.

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