Indonesian Identity in Indonesia-Malaysia Border Community

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue I, January 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Indonesian Identity in Indonesia-Malaysia Border Community

Adolfo Eko Setyanto^ı, Ignatius Agung Satyawan², Sri Herwindya Baskara Wijaya³, Salieg Luki Munestri⁴

^1,3Department of Communication, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
^2,4Departmen of International Relations, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Abstract – This article described the Indonesian identity in Indonesia-Malaysia border area. The method employed in this study was qualitative one with phenomenological approach. The goal of research was Indonesian citizens residing in Sebatik Island, North Borneo. This study viewed the extent to which the integration of Indonesian and Malaysian cultural identity occurs. Indonesians residing in border area had encountered Indonesian crisis as characterized with the emergence of double nationality. The factors leading to the emergence of Indonesian identity crisis were economic, political, and social-cultural. Variety of attempts had been taken by both government and civilians to solidify Indonesian identity in border community.

Keywords: Identity, nationalism, border area

I. INTRODUCTION

Land border between Indonesia and Malaysia includes a sufficiently long borderline (about 2000 km) encompassing three provinces: West Borneo, East Borneo, and North Borneo, consisting of 8 regencies and 23 sub district (Rozi, 2014). General description along the border line, on average, shows the condition of Indonesian areas far left behind compared with the Malaysian area.

To catch upto that, many attempts have been taken by Central Government. Nevertheless, the government’s attempts through various programs to develop border area apparently have not been fruitful. The wish to change nationality still arises. Indonesian citizens in border area with Malaysia have encountered Indonesian identity crisis. They attempt to change their nationality into Malaysians. Being Malaysians means getting opportunity of being guaranteed for their livelihood, compared with when they became Indonesians. Although they do not change their nationality, they experience split of identity because there is a popular jargon among them: “Garuda (Indonesia)didadaku namun harimau (Malaysia)di perutku” meaning that Garuda (Indonesia) is on my breast but tiger (Malaysia) is on my stomach” (Rozi, 2014).

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