Heritage disputes unnecessary: Society

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Culture belongs to everyone and arguments between Indonesia and Malaysia over the ownership of traditional songs and folklore should be avoided, the head of a heritage society said on the weekend.

A recent dispute between the two countries over ownership rights to a traditional song was unnecessary because "culture is for sharing", Endo Suanda, the director of the Indonesian Heritage Trust (BPPI), told a gathering in Jakarta on Saturday.

"If Malaysia believes Rasa Sayange originally came from there, let it be. We don't need to overreact as if we won't be able to enjoy the song anymore," said Endo, who is also the Archipelagic Art Academy director.

Rasa Sayange became the center of a heated debate in Indonesia last year when the House of Representatives protested against Malaysia's use of the song in its "Truly Asia" tourism campaign.

Tensions escalated in Indonesia when rumors circulated that Malaysia had also patented traditional Indonesian handicrafts, including batik and wayang puppets.

National Mandate Party (PAN) legislator Hakam Naja said Indonesia should sue the Malaysian government if it could be proven that the song originated in Indonesia.

While it is believed Rasa Sayange originated in Maluku, where people are believed to have sung it for generations to express their love for the environment, there is no proof as to who wrote the song.

The Malaysian government said Kuala Lumpur had never claimed ownership over the song and promised to drop two Indonesian traditional dances that were also featured in its tourism campaign.

"Culture does not belong to one specific nation. It is yours and ours and it belongs to everyone else too," said Endo.

"Why should we argue about this while everyone is still allowed to enjoy it?"

Endo said he was concerned people had classified culture into certain categories and said no one specific culture was better than another.

"We should not underestimate mixed cultures, which are created as a response to multicultural living, by saying that original cultures are better," he said.

As an example he cited Gambang Kromong music from Tangerang, which is a combination of several cultures, including Betawi, Melayu and Chinese.

Also present at Saturday's event was Hashim Djojohadikusumo, a businessman and art collector who will facilitate the return of the thousand-year-old "Minto" Stone to Indonesia from Scotland by the end of this year.

At the forum, the son of former New Order economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo called on Indonesian businesspeople to contribute to culture-related philanthropic activities, saying it would help preserve the country's heritage.

"I am concerned that culture-related donations are usually donated by foreigners. Local businesses should be able to take part in this. Contributing our money is not a hard thing to do if we love art."

Also speaking at the gathering, academic Laretna T. Adishakti said philanthropists had contributed a lot to her efforts to revitalize a silver handicraft area devastated by Yogyakarta's earthquake in 2005.

"We haven't received help from the government except for the renovation of mosques in Kota Gede," said the lecturer from Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

She said the revitalization of Kota Gede would take 20 years and would involve a large amount of funds.

"We have received Rp 1 billion (approximately US$106 million) so far," she said. (lln)