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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

CONFRONTATION INDONESIA – MALAYSIA


1963-1966: PERSPECTIVE OF HISTORY TEXTBOOK
INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA
Andre Bagus Irshanto*, Leli Yulifar, Helius Sjamsuddin
Department of Historical Education, School of Postgraduate, Indonesia University of Education,
Bandung, West Jawa, Indonesia
*andreirshanto@rocketmail.com

Abstract
Indonesia and Malaysia are two neighboring countries that have experienced ups and downs in
their relationship. Initially they had a good relation, especially when Malaysia gained
independence from Britain on August 31, 1957. The relations between the two countries began to
heat up when Malaysia was proclaimed as Persekutuan Tanah Melayu by Tunku Abdul Rahman
on September 16, 1963. The confrontation began on February 11, 1963, after President Soekarno
announced the order Dwikora or Dwi Komando Rakyat on May 3, 1964. This article emphasizes
on how the events of the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia were narrated in the
history textbooks in these two countries. The method used for this article is content analysis
towards the text in history textbooks.

Keywords: Indonesia, Malaysia, Confrontation, History Textbooks, Soekarno, Tunku Abdul


Rahman

Introduction
History text book is one of the School integrated curriculum written by
historiography for educational. In the Ramlan Bin Adam, Shakila Parween Binti
discussion of this article researchers raised a Yacoob, Abdul Hakim Bin Samuri, and
chapter in a history textbook involving the two Muslim Bin Fadzi and published by the
allied countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, Language Council and Literature. This article
namely the confrontation of Indonesia discussion of the Confrontation of Indonesia
Malaysia. This theme is important because this and Malaysia, the urgency of this article's
theme it concerns the relationship of two research is to see how the Indonesian and
neighboring allied countries, this theme about Malaysian governments write their official
confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia history (Official History) through power in
moreover very little discussion when viewed politics which is poured into historical
from the perspective of historical education textbooks, especially for high school levels.
mainly related to textbooks from both The researcher hopes that with the birth of this
countries. For the perspective of Indonesian paper it will add to the close relations of the
textbooks, the author uses a compulsory allied and neighboring countries, and there
history textbook for class XII Curriculum 2013 should be no more unilateral claims made by
written by Abdurakhman, Ardi Pradono, Linda Malaysia or Indonesia. The concepts used in
Sunarti, and Susanto Zuhdi published by the this article are the concepts of historical
government through the Ministry of Education textbooks, curricula, official history, conflict
and Culture. The material concerning the theory from Coser, and Piaget's theory. For a
Indonesian Confrontation of Malaysia is in the literature review of this article researchers use
Chapter of the Political System and Structure several journal articles, including:
and the Economy of Demokrasi terpimpin First article by Jin Wimm Choung
(1959-1965). While from the perspective of entitled in Mine, Yours, or Ours "The
Malaysian history textbooks the reseacher uses Indonesian Malaysian Overshared Cultural
a Level 5 History textbook based on the Middle Heritage. Sojurn in Sojurn: Journal of

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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

Social Issues South East Asia Vol 27 (1) In figure of Soekarno who was lost to the
this article discusses how neighboring relations Soeharto masses. In addition, Malaysia has
between Indonesia and Malaysia experience made many unilateral claims to Indonesian
ups and downs, the relationship can run culture that made the Indonesian people furious
harmoniously at one time and when a conflict and angry to arouse enthusiasm and re-
can occur, especially regarding an icon culture emerged the Ganyang Malaysia slogan.
and when viewed from its historical roots both Third, a paper by Budiawan title. How
countries have the same roots and cultural do Indonesia Remember Confrontation?
heritage. The issue of this conflict is further Indonesian - Malaysian Relations and the
compounded by the inclusion of political Popular Memory of "Suharto Conflict After
elements in it. One of the issues raised in this the Fall. In the Inter Journal of Cultural
paper is Malaysia's claim to pendet dance Studies Vol 18 In this article, discuss.
which is claimed unilaterally by Malaysia as a concerning the historical process of Malaya-
dance originating from Malaysia not from Indonesian literary networks and networks
Indonesia. This makes the relations between from 1950-1965. The focus is on how Malay
Indonesia and Malaysia tense and heated up so writers, most of whom were political activists
that this conflict is not sustainable, so the and journalists as well, sought inspiration from
author of this article provides a solution that Indonesia in their creative processes as part of
should broaden the scope of the problem Malaya's independence struggle. As a
solving perspective not only from the point of preliminary study, this article is limited to
view of the two countries' historical views, but showing a writing made by Malay writers with
also from aspects others in order to produce a their Indonesian counterparts, and how this
solution to the dispute problem. This article relationship was affected and influenced by
emphasizes the event of Indonesian political relations between the two countries,
confrontation Malaysia becomes the main especially during the "Confrontation" era in
discussion and the claims are only made as an 1963–1966. striking between this work and
impact. The method used in this article with meticulous research article is on the method
this using historical methods while the paper is used and the different press points.
using content analysis method is mainly in the Fourth, a paper by Farabi Fakih titled
history textbooks of both countries, both Malaysia as an "Other" In Indonesian
Indonesia and Malaysia. Popular Discourse in. Inter Asia Cultural
Second, articel by Budiawan titled Studies Journal in this article we discuss
Cultural and Political Relations; between popular publications in Indonesia on the topic
Malay (sia) Writers and Their Indonesian of Indonesia-Malaysia relations. This looks at
Counterpart 1950-1965 in the Journal of how Indonesia views Malaysia and its function
Asian Cultrural Studies Vol 16 (1). In this of perception in relation to Indonesia's national
article, discussing how the relations between identity. This article also looks at how
Indonesia and Malaysia after Soeharto's Indonesia's perceptions of Malaysia were
downfall in 1998 were a little heated, this was discussed during the revolution by reading
triggered by various mass actions which speeches held at the constitution meeting
chanted anti-Malaysian sentiments broke (BPUPKI) and the period of Confrontation,
several times in a number of major cities in reading speeches written by Sukarno and
Indonesia. Every time a mass demonstration letters of Pan-Malay leaders exiled in
against Malaysia occurs, the memory of Indonesia., Ibrahim Yaacob. The article then
"Confrontation" is remembered, as seen in compared the ideas adopted by Sukarno,
usage the rhetoric "Crash Malaysia" Yaacob and others in the past and the
(Malaysian Crush) , while during the Suharto arguments presented today about Malaysia.
era, narratives from the historical episode Initial conclusions were reached that
"Confrontation" were built to criticize geopolitical anxiety and not kinship relations
Sukarno's "Malaysian Crush" campaign as an were more important factors in how
escape from the internal economic crisis, not as contemporary Indonesia saw Malaysias
an expression of nationalist sentiment It seems a during a dispute. On the other hand, most of
that the people after Soeharto wanted to restore Syamsumar's artworks showed sympathy for
the glory and enthusiasm and pride of the Azahari, Kalimantan's local political leader,

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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

who launched a rebellion against the from Indonesia which is considered a PRRI
government which occurred on December 8, rebellion which fled to its territory. Not only
1962. This articel intends to highlight the was it reluctant to restore the PRRI political
works of art in the form of illustrations of escape the Malaysian government was also
Syamsumar, describing the Indonesia- said to have allowed its ports to be used by the
Malaysia dispute which was published in West to channel aid to the rebellion that
Bintang Timur in December 1962 in fact the opposed Jakarta. Indonesian and Malaysian
writers who examined it more closely relations increasingly heated up after President
highlighted how history was used as teaching Sukarno campaigned for a slogan "Ganyang
material taught in classrooms especially Malaysia" which was caused as a response to
through textbooks of the two countries the formation of the Malay Land Federation by
Prime Minister Tunku Abdurachman declared
Methodology on September 16, 1963 a day later on
The method used in this paper is content September 17, 1963 Indonesia terminated
analysis, content analysis is a research diplomatic relations unilaterally with
technique for objective, systematic quantitative Malaysia, this caused the diplomatic relations
description of manifest of content of to be severed. In the international arena the
communication. Based on the above opinion problem of this confrontation heated up
regarding content analysis, it can be concluded especially in November 1964 Malaysia
that the analysis is a systematic and objective planned to become a member of the UN, before
method that is carried out through the process President Soekarno could not hold back his
of observing texts originating from text in the customs because Malaysia entered the UN
form of words and images as well as therefore Soekarno made a speech delivered on
quantitative and qualitative data. December 31, 1964, which was actually
submitted to the forum. On September 30, 1960
Results and Discussion the sound of his speech was as follows:
Malaysia and Indonesia are allied
countries that have very close ties. Relations “Oleh karenanya, jikalau PBB
between Indonesia and Malaysia are menerma Malaysia menjadi anggota
considered as "brother and sister" relations, menjadi anggota Dewan Keamanan,
which are characterized not only by friendship kita, Indonesia, akan keluar, kita akan
but also by quarrels like habits in family keluar dari PBB sekarang “(Suharto,
relationships. This relationship is likened to a 2012, hlm 432).
"roller coaster", which sometimes rises
(harmoniously), but suddenly it can glide into Before Malaysia entered and was
tension. The emergence of these tensions accepted as a member of the United Nations on
occurred especially when the Indonesian January 1, 1965 Indonesia had said it was out
government, especially in the Old Order era, of the United Nations. The agreement was
began with accusations that Indonesia was stronger when Malaysia was actually accepted
facing a rebellion of the Revolutionary as the Security Council 7 January 1965 by
Government of the Republic of Indonesia saying "Now that Malaysia is accepted as a
(PRRI / Permesta) against Malaysia (Tunku Security Council member, I declare, Indonesia
Abdurahman) in the use of Soemitro left the UN. Indonesia officially left the UN
Djojohadikusumo, a Socialist Party Indonesia and its organs by sending a letter delivered by
(PSI) is accused of being involved in the PRRI Foreign Minister Dr Subandrio on January 20,
to oppose Soekarno's government.The 1965 to the secretary general of U Thant. UN
accusation was denied by Tunku by saying " I Secretary General U Thant regretted
have never spoken at any time called Indonesia's departure from the UN and hoped
Indonesian Rebel Leader, nor have I had any that Indonesia could return to cooperation with
plans for my head to set up a Malayan Islamic the United Nations. On March 25, 1965,
in South East Asia" (Sunarti, 2014, p. 73) President Soekarno refused US economic
Indonesian accusations against assistance for Indonesia. Returning to domestic
Malaysia are not limited to that but also that problems when there was a unilateral decision
Malaysia is reluctant to give up political escape by Indonesia on September 17, 1963 the

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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

Indonesian government announced a would still want to attack Malaysia, Kuala


confrontation with Malaysia. And on May 3, Lumpur not only got assistance from countries
1964 Soekarno's operation called Dwikora that had a defense agreement with it and also
(Dwi Komando Rakyat) was as follows: countries that had sympathy also got assistance
from the United Kingdom and the United
1) Perhebat ketahanan revolusi States. Assistance from the United States
Indonesia. emerged after President JF Kennedy carried
2) Bantu perjuangan revoluisoner out a statement that his country would support
rakyat Malaya, Singapura, Sabah, the formation of the Malaysian Federation.
dan Sarawak, Brunai, untuk With the support of the United States to
membubarkan negara boneka increase confidence from Malaysia in facing
Malaysia (Ismaun, tt, hlm Indonesia which is supported by China and the
35,Humaidi, 2008, hlm 31). Soviet Union. In addition to being in the form
of support, Tunku also prepares and
With this Dwikora received a response strengthens militarily on each of his
from the PKI by providing assistance indirectly commitments to face threats from Indonesia.
to the guerrillas- communist guerrillas that To prepare for facing Indonesia Malaysia was
existed on the border especially those in forced to cancel the departure of 800 troops for
Kalimantan which directly bordered the land a peace mission in Congo with the UN flag.
between Indonesian Malaysian funds such as Threats from Malaysia were ignored by
communist guerrillas in Sarawak and Indonesia, so on May 3, 1964 Soekarno's
communist North Kalimantan geriliyawan. In operation was called Dwikora (Dwi Komando
addition to providing assistance to communist Rakyat). For the embodiment of Dwikora, the
guerrillas at the PKI border, they also carried Indonesian government continued to expand its
out incitements by creating jargon - terms and military infiltration into Malaysian territory
terms such as: puppet Imperialism, Nekolim, through landings in Pontianak, Johor on
Oldefos, and so on. August 17, 1964. And the second landing took
The jargon was voiced by mass place in Labis, also in the Johor region on
demonstration not only in Indonesia but in September 2, 1964. Previously there had also
Malaysia. Dwikora was immediately been an infiltration, namely on April 21, 1963
elaborated by forming the Supreme Operations at the Tabedu police station in Sarawak
Command. (KOTI) at the central level and for Malaysia which resulted in a police officer
the western region on May 16, 1964 a Joint being killed. It was noted, from January 16 to
Command was named the Alert Command. March 27, 1963 Indonesia launched 50
The Alert Command was led by Omar Dhani infiltration attacks. Selain ABRI dan PKI
from the Air Force while the representatives yang terlibat dalam operasi Dwikora ini
were from the Navy namely Mulyadi and adalah orang-orang komunis Cina dari
Birgjen Achmad Wiranatakusumah. In the Sarawak yang dilatih oleh ABRI yang
military force itself, especially the Army, did bergabung dalam organisasi PGRS / Paraku
not agree with the establishment of the standby yang anggotanya berasal dari etnis Cina
command, which was chaired by Omar Dhani, yang berasal dari Sarawak ( SAYA) dan
the army namely Suharto and Nasution carried Kalimantan Utara dan mendapat tambahan
out defiance by communication. Angkatan bantuan dari kaum geriliyawan komunis
darat menghimbau para anggotanya agar Malaya yang bersembunyi di Kalimantan
tidak ikut dalam konfrontasi karena barat untuk menentang pendirian negara
keikutsertaan dalam konfrontasi Malaysia Federasi Malaysia (Rucianawati, 2011, hal
adalah suatu tindakan yang kontra– 43)
produktif,karena isu dari konfrontasi hanya To compensate for the strength and
menguatkan dukungan bagi kaum komunis operation originating from the military during
yang mendukung politik gagasan tersebut the Dwikora operation, volunteers from among
(Humaidi, 2008,hlm . 32). the civil society were formed, one of which was
Before Indonesia formed a military volunteers who came from scholars from
force to carry out a confrontation on February universities in Java and outside Java. Para
23, 1963, Tunku had warned that Indonesia sukarelawan sarjana ini ditempatkan di

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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

daerah yang berbatasan langsung dengan Malaysia dianggap sebagi proyek


Malaysia dan juga ada yang sengaja Neokolonialisme Inggris yang akan
menyusup masuk ke daerah Malaysia. Tujuan membahayakan revolusi Indonesia.”
dari sukarelawan terutama yang berasal dari (Abdurakhman, 2015, hlm 96)
para sarjana adalah untuk membentuk opini
publik untuk membebaskan diri dari ikatan The role of Tunku Abdulrahman in this
penjajahan dan membentuk suatu negara confrontation is not to be explained in detail
yang merdeka dan berdaulat penuh while Soekarno's role is very prominent and
(Hadiningrat, 1971, hlm. 54). With volunteers plays an important role in the course of
from scholars providing benefits to the confrontation
Indonesian side provide preliminary
information regarding the condition of the Yaitu pada 3 Mei 1964 presiden
population of the Indonesian border region of Soekarno mengumkan Dwikora (Dwi
Malaysia before the combat units from the Komando Rakyat) dihadapan para
armed forces are deployed. sukarelawan. Untuk menjalankan
Apart from Indonesia, which was operasi Dwikora membentuk
involved in the conflict with Malaysia, the Komando Siaga dengan Marsekal
Philippines through the president of Disosdao Madya Oemar Dani sebagai ketuanya
Macapagal who opposed the formation of the (Abdurakhman, 2015, hlm 97)
Malay Land Federation and announced its
support for Indonesia, the reason for the Whereas the role of Tunku in
Philippines to oppose the formation of the Indonesian history textbooks only as a trigger
Tanah Melayu federation was because it could for this conflict is the following the excripsion:
not accept Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei
completing this confrontation so as not to drag Masalah ini berawal dari munculnya
on and take a lot of casualties from both parties, keinginan Tunku Abdul Rahman dari
a first peace effort was initiated by the Tanah Melayu dan Lee Kuan Yew dari
Philippines on 9-17 April 1963 and a Republik Singapura ingin menyatukan
conference was attended by the Foreign kedua negara tersebut menjadi
Minister of the three confronting countries Federasi Malaysia (Abdurakhman,
namely Indonesia. Malaysia and the 2015, hlm 96 )
Philippines. The conference discussed issues -
in the plan to form the Malay Land Federation, While in Malaysia history textbook
the nature of the conference was semi-official are narrated the cinfrontation following:
and not too rigid. The meeting was followed by
a second meeting held by Japanese lawyers Indonesia berpendapat pembentukan
sponsored by the United States held in Tokyo pembentukan Malaysia merupakan
on 31 May -1 June 1963 which presented all suatu bentuk neokolonilisme yang akan
the two heads of state who were formally mengancam Indonesia. Pandangan yang
confronting disurakan oleh Parti Komunis Indonesia
In this a paper the reasearcher will (PKI) ini kemudiahn telah
citation from Indonesian history textbooks the mempengaruhi Presiden Soekarno
perspective of the Indonesian, about Indonesia untuk mengisyaratkan Dasar
Malaysia confrontation is. In this discussion Konfrontasi (Adam, 2010, hal 146 ).
not explained in detail the course of Whereas, from the Malaysian
confrontation is only the beginning of the perspective, especially after Indonesia
trigger for confrontations and negotiations in mobilized its troops to the Malaysian area, they
resolving confrontation: were as following:

"Menurut Presiden Soekarno “Apabila tentera Indonesia bertindak


pembentukan Federasi Malaysia lah bertindak Indonesia mula
sebagai rencana Inggris untuk melsancarkan serangan terhadap
mengamankan kekuasaannya di Asia Malaysia melalui Johor, Sarawak, dan
Tenggara. Pembentukan dari Federasi Sabah. Malaysia telaak bertindak balas

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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

dengan bantuan tentera Komenwel Malaysia.


termasuk dari Britain , Australia, dan When viewed from the conflict
New Zealand dan Kanada (Adam, classification proposed by the Coser event
2010, hal 146).” which was appointed by the researcher in this
case it included non-reality conflicts, why
In this textbook try to be balanced in because there were no clear demands and also
describing the characters involved in the tried to escape the real problems being faced
confrontation. Indonesia is still chaotic in the country by
conflict with neighboring countries under the
“Presiden Soeharto kemudian pretext that Malaysia is made from Britsh and
menghantarkan Menteri Luar Negeri, one form of Neo Colonialism.
Adam Malik, bagi memelihara
hubungan diplomatik Malaysia – Conclution
Indonesia menjaelang Ogos 1966” In the course of history, the two
(Adam, 2010, hal 147). countries, both Indonesia and Malaysia, did not
always run smoothly. there are only ripples and
If the researcher analyzes using one of the conflicts that color the dynamics of the
theories used that is using the conflict theory relationship between the two countries. From
that comes from Lewis Coser. When viewed these events we can take many lessons, namely
from the type of conflict it is divided into two the love of the motherland overcomes all if the
according to Coser, namely conflict of reality state calls us ready to fulfill that call. Especially
and non-reality. Reality conflict is a conflict in writing down the confrontation between
caused by object participants which is Indonesia and Malaysia which is poured into
considered disappointing, while non-reality history textbooks for students who sit on high
conflict is a conflict that does not originate school. Even though these two nations are
from a specific purpose, but rather to demean allied but there are differences in seeing their
tension on one party (Poloma, 2010, p. 116; past, hopefully the presence of this article can
Astawa, 2017, p. 97). Still according to Coser be used as a lesson as the two allied countries
(Darmawan, 2005, p. 365) that the more a so as not to occur the same event in the coming
group is trapped into a realistic action, the masses.
harder the conflict will be because it involves
emotions rather than common sense. In References
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3rd International Conference on History Education 2019

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Choung, J. (2012). "Mine, Yours, or Ours" The Lapian ,A.B &Leirisa (Ed.), Indonesia
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