[3] Both Malaysia and Indonesia have many common characteristic traits, including standard frames of reference in history, culture and religion.

Although both nations are tied by a common religion, language, proximity and cultural heritage that dates back centuries, the relationship has been known to be unfriendly, as they often engage in diplomatic spats.

[5] Since their independences, Indonesia and Malaysia have moved in different directions in their respective social, economic, and political development, which often lead them to serious bilateral tensions.

[2] Indonesia has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur and consulates general in Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Tawau.

Throughout their history, the borders of ancient kingdoms and empires – such as Srivijaya, Majapahit, Malacca, Johor-Riau and Brunei – often comprised both modern-day countries.

Negeri Sembilan, in particular, has large numbers of Minangkabau people, Acehnese in Kedah, Javanese in Johor, Banjarese in Perak and Bugis in Selangor and Sabah.

The successor states of British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies are Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei on the one hand, and Indonesia, on the other.

[1] After the fall of Sukarno, relations between Indonesia and Malaysia were restored under President Suharto; as both parties agreed to normalize the bilateral relationship and pursued peaceful co-operation and partnership.

The bilateral relations recovery process was started on 1 June 1966 when the foreign ministers of two nations signed the Bangkok Accord to end hostility and confrontation.

Since the 1970s, under the Suharto and Mahathir administrations, both countries enjoy a relatively cordial and close relationship, stemmed from both proximity and serumpun (kinship) spirit.

[9] Most of the current borders of Malaysia and Indonesia were inherited from Dutch East Indies and, British Malaya and Borneo colonial rule.

Both parties involved in arresting and detaining their counterpart's officials and fishers accused of territorial breaching violations and illegal fishing.

With its large population and abundant workforce, Indonesian workers began to regard Malaysia as an attractive destination for work as a means of improving their economic situation.

Through an intensive tourism campaign, Malaysia has featured some famous cultural icons, namely the Rasa Sayang song, batik textile, wayang kulit shadow-puppet play and barongan dance.

Despite the dispute never leading to a severe confrontation between the two countries, and politicians of both sides having even acknowledged it as "petty", in Indonesia, however, an activist group held a demonstration in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta to protest the origin of the dish lumpia in February 2015.

[30] Although the representations of speech sounds are now largely identical between the Indonesian and Malaysian varieties, a number of minor spelling differences remain.

Malaysian animation Upin & Ipin with deep Malay culture had also gained wide popularity and appeal among Indonesian children and families.

Competitive matches between the Indonesian and Malaysian team are famed for their enormous turnout and intense atmosphere, whether the tie is held in Malaysia or Indonesia.

[33] The slash and burn practices to clear the lands for Indonesian palm plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan have caused haze and smoke fog that have been blown northwards by wind and have reached Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and, to a lesser degree, the Philippines and Thailand.

The Indonesian government has expressed the concern that many rain forests along the Indonesia—Malaysia borders in Borneo were suffering illegal logging, mostly done by Malaysian loggers.

[citation needed] Malaysians expressed their concern that media in Indonesia seems to encourage and foster anti-Malaysia sentiments through distorted news coverage, exaggerations, and blowing the issues beyond the proportions.

[36] The Malaysian government is concerned about anti-Malaysia sentiments, protest and aggressive actions of certain extremists amid the bilateral spats over the Pendet controversy and the mistreatment of Indonesian housemaids in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang are popular destinations for Indonesian travellers, and vice versa Bandung, Medan and Bukittinggi are particularly famous among Malaysian tourists.