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If I were an Indonesian, I would also be angry and frustrated with Malaysia.

First of all, a young teenage Indonesian belle (a supermodel, not that kind of "Indonesian maid" we might think) was married to a well-to-do family in Malaysia.

But soon, we heard of mistreatment of this young lady; and the issue has since been fried up by the Indonesian media.

Over to the Malaysian side, the royalty calls the incident a "family affair," and insists that non-interference policy be in place.

The problem is that Indonesians don't treat this matter as merely a family affair, but a national issue of "Indonesians being abused."

Coincidentally, the well-to-do Malaysian royalty in stark contrast with the family of the young Indonesian lass provides an antithesis of wealthy Malaysia taking advantage of its impoverished neighbour.

The serious concern the incident has aroused in the Indonesian society contrasted with the indifference in Malaysia has accentuated the impression that Malaysia is indeed in gross disregard for human rights and justice.

The incident climaxed in Singapore. With the help from a Singapore cab driver, police, hotel personnel and embassy staff, this pretty young lady managed to escape to Jakarta.

In the company of her mother, the young lady made prominent appearances on all major newspapers and TV channels across Indonesia complaining about her torture.

This, has put Malaysia in deep disgrace. The Indonesian society has blasted Malaysia as being overly arrogant, irrational and big bully.

As if that is not enough, we have been fed with news of yet another recent instance of maid torture.

Hailing from a small town in West Java, 33-year-old Siti Hajar has been squatting in a living hell in a KL condo during the past three years: scalded with boiling water, smashed with a stick and slapped on the face!

The picture of her reddened, seriously scalded body was circulating across the massive archipelago. The inhuman treatment a compatriot had received in a foreign land touched the heart of every Indonesian.

If these two cases of maltreatment of Indonesian nationals fail to boil up public sentiments, then the issue of sovereignty over Ambalat should really bring out the wrath.

Of course, Malaysia and Indonesia have their respective interpretations on whether the sovereignty of Ambalat has been infringed upon.

From the Indonesian perspectives, the territory falls within the Indonesian waters, and there is no question about it.

Don't forget, the wound over the loss of Sipadan and Ligitan in 2002 has yet to heal!

Moreover, with the presidential election just around the corner, Indonesian politicians rush to declare their stand in this issue.

Malaysia's "big bully" image has taken shape. Even if the incidents involved only a handful of people, the same must never be downplayed by us. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)