Haze, provocative football chants hasten anti-Indo sentiment among Malaysians; boycott mooted

 

WITH Malaysians already choking on the haze caused by open burning in Indonesia, resentment towards their neighbours was further heightened with distasteful football banter tainting the recent match between the two nations.

Editor’s Note: Malaysia and Indonesia played to a 0-0 draw on Sep 28 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta during the FIFA ASEAN Cup Group A match (despite Malaysia dominating possession after Indonesia went down to 10-men in the 37th minute).

This much was clear in a post by Threader Señor WYSIWIG (@fazfadz22) who took umbrage that certain Indonesian football fans chose to mock the recent passing of former ‘first lady’ Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali in the name of sporting banter.

Congratulating these Indonesian fans on helping tarnish their own nation’s image by making them “social pariahs of Southeast Asia”, the poster made it abundantly clear what he thought of his erstwhile neighbours.

In a tit-for-tat move, he cursed them with all manner of natural disasters involving tsunamis and volcanoes.

The disgusted Malaysian then urged his fellow countrymen to ignore “putrid, vile” comments online and not to engage with “uncivilised neanderthals”.

The anger was palpable. Alas, there were many locals keen to display a similar tastelessness in retorting to these jibes.

There were also considered Malaysians who argued that it was unbecoming to curse the Indonesians with such natural calamities.

Another calm-minded netizen also argued that it was unnecessary for Malaysians to get wound up over the deeds of a small minority on social media.

Boycott can pose setback

It was at this juncture that one commenter suggested that a better way to show Malaysian displeasure is by way of boycott by starting to say “no” to Indonesian F&B (food and beverage) fare.

This suggestion to boycott Indonesian brands was also mooted in a Thread by ZA (@mee.zsa).

Perhaps noting the impact that a boycott had on brands here over perceived pro-Zionist links, this poster was keen to call for similar action against products and services that had links to Indonesia.

A lengthy list of brands perceived to have links with Indonesia was furnished with a clear message to Malaysians to spend their money elsewhere.

“Be careful what you wish for.” This was the pointed message from one Indonesian commenter who quite rightly pointed out that many of these brands, especially the franchises, were under Malaysian ownership.

This call for a boycott was also met with a similarly disdainful reply from this unimpressed Indonesian commenter.

Pointing out that not only did Indonesian provide a natural buffer against threat of tsunamis, Sabah and Sarawak were also dependent on Indonesia for satellite services.

It was opined that Malaysia would be “auto miskin” (literally “auto poverty”) without influx of Indonesian exports to which an extensive list was appended.

This was when a disgruntled Chinese Malaysian decided that perhaps his brethren can better spend their time and energy on more fruitful endeavours such as improving the future of the Malays and focusing on economic development of the nation instead of endless rounds of boycotts.

His use of an expletive underlined what he thought of these “boycott” movements.

Public sentiment towards Indonesians may be at an all-time low, not helped by the sickening haze enveloping Malaysian skylines.

However, the actions of a minority of football fans (and probably anonymous keyboard warriors) taking things too far should not be the trigger for a similar outpouring of hate and stupidity.

To wish natural disasters upon fellow human beings definitely falls into the category of the former while the calls for boycott of brands that could ostensibly be owned by Malaysians is frankly, foolish and ill-conceived. 

 - Focus Malaysia