Discovery Channel will produce a new program on Indonesia's traditional Bali dance to ease the tension between Malaysia and Indonesia over a dispute on "cultural intrusion," local daily The Star reported? in Mayaysia Saturday.
The 30-minute program will be aired in the Asia-Pacific Region, Kevin Dickie, South-East Asia senior vice president and general manager of Discovery Network, was quoted by the report as saying.
Last month, a Discovery Channel program about Malaysia was broadcast with a clip of the traditional "pendet" dance of Indonesia's Bali island inserted in it.
It sparked an uproar in Indonesia as the people alleged Malaysians intruded their culture.
As a result, Malaysian flags were burnt in Indonesia and eggs were pelted at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.
However, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as well as a few of his colleagues have earlier shown their confidence in maintaining good bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Dickie said in his statement that the Discovery Network was concerned about the developments between Malaysia and Indonesia, adding that the network had not attempted to undermine Indonesian culture.
Admitting that it was a human error, Dickie said he hoped the current situation would lead to a broader understanding of the richness of both Malaysian and Indonesian cultures.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein assured the safety of 1.8 million Indonesians in Malaysia, in spite of the provocation, pressure, humiliation and threats.
He said on Friday that efforts would be made to prevent " unhappy events" in Malaysia.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2009)
