Chapter 5 - Not Yet Special: Indonesia–Malaya/Malaysia Relations, 1957–65

Summary

This chapter explains that a special relationship did not exist between the Sukarno-led Indonesia and Malaya/Malaysia. Indonesia and Malaya/Malaysia were bound by their common identities rooted in the Malay way of life. Because of them sharing common identities, both states shared similar strategic understanding of the regional order of archipelagic Southeast Asia. However, Malaya did not possess the necessary amount of power that would engender Indonesia's recognition of its strategic reliance on Malaya; whereas the amount of power owned by Indonesia had surpassed a level that produced Malaya's strategic dependence on Indonesia. Besides, Indonesia did not immediately realize its mutual strategic dependence with Malaysia, during the period when Malaya had expanded into Malaysia. In short, the similar strategic understanding of Indonesia and Malaya/Malaysia had not been shaped into their common strategic interests by the power owned by Indonesia and Malaya/Malaysia. Indonesia aimed for its strategic preponderance over Malaya/Malaysia; whereas Malaya/ Malaysia desired for its mutual strategic dependence with Indonesia.

Two sources of closeness — common identities and common strategic interests — did not coexist in the relationship between Malaya/Malaysia and the Sukarno-led Indonesia. In other words, there was no special relationship between the two states.

The three sources of conflict that were embedded in the ties between Malaya/Malaysia and the Sukarno-led Indonesia — Indonesia's assertion of its dominance over Malaya/Malaysia and Malaya/Malaysia's attempt to balance against Indonesia's aim for regional dominance; the two states’ drive to emphasize the superiority of their respective nationhood over that of their culturally similar counterpart; the mismatch of expectation between them — were mutually reinforcing one another. The two states plunged into armed conflicts as a result.

INDONESIA–MALAYSIA COMMON IDENTITIES —THE MALAY WAY OF LIFE

The pre-existing dominant ethnic community in archipelagic Southeast Asia forms the basis for the establishments of Indonesia and Malaysia as two sovereign nation-states. The culture of the ethnic community, namely, the Malay way of life, constitutes the central character of the two states’ respective national identity. As such, Indonesia and Malaysia are bound by their common identities rooted in the Malay way of life. The Malay way of life is constituted by the combination of three essential elements — the notion of kingdom, the Malay language and Islam. Within the mindset of kingdom, the people of the dominant ethnic community in archipelagic Southeast Asia speak the Malay language and adhere to Islam.