Traditionally Malaysia considers Indonesia as one of its closest neighbors. However, the recent spate of demonstrations and protests in front of our embassy in Jakarta by a small group of Indonesians claimed to be from the nationalist People's Defence of Democracy (BENDERA) did not augur well in the state of our bilateral relations.

It seems it is the same group that threatened to attack us with sticks and stones over the alleged mistreatment of Indonesian maids and over the 'tarian pendek' which they considered this an act of stealing by Malaysia from them. This time it is over the alleged detention of three of their maritime and fishery officials by the Malaysian authorities. Seven Malaysian fishermen were also reported to have been detained by the Indonesian authorities on August 16. But the detainees of both sides have since been released.

The demonstrators even openly told the Indonesian media that they would 'sweep' Malaysians in town, and shave them before sending them back. This statement sounds very arrogant. And obviously we fear for the safety of Malaysians there.

I share the sentiments of most Malaysians to feel hurt to see the Indonesians whom we regard as Muslim bothers are doing this in the holy month of Ramadan ( this should be the month of forgiveness) and at a time we are celebrating our 53rd anniversary of Independence. The act of storming our embassy and throwing human faeces into its compound, and stomping on our flag, the Jalur Gemilang, is uncalled for, and should not have come from those whom we regard as friends. Short of saying ungrateful, these protesters forgot that there are more than one million Indonesians seeking their livelihood in Malaysia, legally as well as illegally.

The good thing about we Malaysians is that we have been keeping cool and exercising restraints. We have been noble in not reacting or retaliating. Our media too have reacted responsibly, without going to the extent of instigating or provoking Malaysians to retaliate or to take extreme actions. I notice our Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifah Aman too has been very cautious and calculative in his statements when advising Malaysians not to visit Indonesia if situation escalates. He did this so as not to jeopardize the good relationship that Malaysia enjoys with Indonesia. Officially too the Ministry did not issue a travel advisory as such.

We are happy to note that the Malaysian government has called on the Indonesian authorities to take stern actions to control the demonstrators and to protect the security of our embassy as well as the safety of Malaysians there as contained under the Vienna Convention.

However, I am not surprised that there are calls from some quarters in Malaysia for Indonesia to apologize over the incidents.