The sight of angry Indonesians burning the Malaysian flag and chanting the slogan 'ganyang Malaysia' ('Crush Malaysia') brings back painful memories of the Konfrontasi (Confrontation) between Malaysia and Indonesia that took place between 1962 to 1965.

Already we have seen the predictable response from both sides: The Indonesian press with the exception of a few notable newspapers has been stoking the flames of public anger, goading the more bellicose sections of Indonesian society towards what can only be a diplomatic and political disaster for the country. On the Malaysian side, a significant section of the Malaysian community including the media, on-line bloggers and vocal social commentators have whipped up xenophobic sentiments of the mob, blaming Indonesians for all that is wrong in the country.

Before the situation gets out of hand, some pertinent and timely questions need to be raised: Does the Indonesian media seriously think that all of Indonesia's problems ranging from systematic state-sponsored violence to the breakdown of law and order in its provinces are caused by Malaysia?

And does the Malaysian media and society seriously believe that all our problems in Malaysia from our divisive communitarian politics to our corrupt political institutions are caused by the Indonesians? Let us not forget that the biggest culprits in the these matters, particularly the oft-repeated cases of political-business links and corruption among the political elite, happen to be Malaysians themselves and the Indonesians are not to be blamed!