Rasa Sayange

Malaysian theft of the “Rasa Sayange” song, before they claimed our two island named Simpadan & Sikatan (am I right??? the named of the island I mean), and what do the Goverment done about it...NOTHING.

It's widely discuss among the blogger about this Topic.
"Rasa sayange" is a title of Indonesian folk song sung by the people of Mollucas in the Eastern of part Indonesia. Although no official facts recorded, this song was believed created by Ambonese man, the late Paulus Pea. The controversy started when Malaysian Tourism Rasa Sayang Commercial, an advertisement, used to promote Malaysian Tourism industry has sparked a rift between Indonesia and Malaysia because the Malaysians considered the song are also owned by them and the other people of the Malay Archipelago since hundreds of years ago.

Indonesian Version:
Rasa Sayange, Rasa Sayang Sayange,
Eeee Lihat Dari Jauh,
Rasa Sayang Sayange

Malaysian Version:
Rasa Sayang Hey, Rasa Sayang Sayang Hey,
Hey Lihat Nona Jauh,
Rasa Sayang Sayang Hey

1.      "Rasa Sayange" song was recorded by PT Lokananta, Solo, Indonesia on August 15, 1962 on gramophone disc. The master copy of this first record is still kept by PT Lokananta. This is known as the first recording of this song

2.      The gramophone disc was distributed as souvenirs to the participants of the 1962 Asian Games IV in Jakarta, and the "Rasa Sayange" song was one of the Indonesian folklores on the disc, together with other Indonesian ethnic groups' folk song such as Sorak-sorak Bergembira, O Ina ni Keke and Sengko Sengko Dainang

3.      Since 1960's "Rasa Sayange" song has been introduced to kindergarten children, making it one of the most popular folk song in Indonesia

4.      The use of 'e' at the end of 'Sayange' is the dialect tone of Ambonese Malay, which distinguish them with the other ethnic groups in Malay Archipelago

5.      In 2007, Malaysia controversially claims this song as a Malay Archipelago folk song

Rasa Sayange" is not only sung by the Malays but is also very popular among the Portuguese in Malaysia, and is a favourite during festivals at the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir here.

The head of the Portuguese traditional music group at the settlement, Manuel Lazaroo said the song handed down by their great-grandparents.

"The word "nona" in the lyrics of the "Rasa Sayange" song in Portuguese means a young lady or an unmarried woman," he told Bernama here today.

He said this in reaction to allegations by some quarters in Indonesia that Malaysia had "stolen" the song and made it a jingle for the country's promotion Visit Malaysia Year and Malaysia Truly Asia programmes.

The Portuguese first arrived in Melaka in 1511. There are currently about 1,200 Portuguese staying in 118 houses in Ujong Pasir.

Lazaroo, 66, however, said he could not say from which country the song originated or who composed the "Rasa Sayange" but that it had been sung since the time of his forefathers.

"I was taught to sing the song since I was a small boy and so were the other children," he added.

Lazaroo, who is the ninth generation in the settlement, said the "Rasa Sayange" could be regarded a song of the Malay archipelago.

Meanwhile, the settlement's head, Peter Thomas Gomes, 50, said the Portuguese community liked to sing the song because it exulted joy and merriment.

"The song is popular among the Portuguese and also other communities. I was taught the song when I was still in school," he added.

But it is a fact that one cannot claim copyright just because one knows or was taught about it or popular between them.