A prominent Indonesian official has added to the war of words with Malaysia by dismissing Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar's travel advice to Malaysians against visiting the republic as an "over-reaction".

Indonesia's Antara news agency today quoted Akbar Tandjung Speaker of the lower house of Parliament as saying that Syed Hamid did not have to advise Malaysians to stop visiting Indonesia, since bilateral relations have not deteriorated beyond repair.

However, Indonesia's National Assembly chairperson Amien Rais was reported by Kompas Cyber Media , to have welcomed Malaysia's decision to stop its nationals from traveling to Indonesia although he had his own reasons.

The Malaysian government's advice was issued after demonstrators pulled down the main gates of its diplomatic mission in Jakarta yesterday and burnt the Malaysian flag.