Indonesian MPs urge action against Malaysia

By Ahmad Pathoni

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian legislators on Tuesday urged further diplomatic action against Malaysia following two incidents involving Malaysia's volunteer security force amid a row between the neighbours over ownership of a folk song.

Indonesia on Monday filed a formal protest after members of the Malaysian security force briefly detained a diplomat's wife, mistaking her for an illegal immigrant, and forcibly broke into a student's home.

But Malaysia denied on Tuesday that the diplomat's wife was briefly detained by Rela, a volunteer security force.

"The report is incorrect," Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

"She was not detained. Rela officers took some time to verify her diplomatic pass," he added.

The incidents came amid anger in Indonesia over the use of a folk song believed to have originated in Indonesia in Malaysia's "Truly Asia" tourism campaign.

"Things like these happen again and again. If we stay silent they will think we Indonesians are stupid," said Yusron Ihza Mahendra, deputy chairman of a parliament commission on foreign affairs, referring to the treatment of Indonesians.

"We must take strong action that sends a clear message that we are angry," Mahendra told Elshinta radio, suggesting that the government warn Indonesians against travelling to Malaysia.