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Indonesian officials have refuted claims that pacu jalur, a traditional cultural boat race, originated in Malaysia, escalating an online debate into a matter of national concern
The controversy surfaced after videos of 11-year-old dancer Ryyan Arkan Dikha, better known as Dika, went viral worldwide last month.
In the videos, the boy dances confidently on the tip of a pacu jalur boat as it speeds across the water, despite the serious risk of falling.
His distinctive movements quickly captured global attention, earning him the nickname 'The Reaper' and sparking a viral trend dubbed 'aura farming' by netizens worldwide.
@cecepjiaa King of Aura,anak kecil yang sedang viral di duniaπ₯ #pacujalur #aurafarming #tiktoktrend #fyp β¬ original sound – ππππππ
Since then, Dika's dance moves have been mimicked by IndyCar racer Robert Shwartzman. French football team PSG also shared a video featuring footballers Neymar and Bradley Barcola incorporating Dika's moves into their goal celebrations.
"His aura made it all the way to Paris," wrote the football club. Watch the video here:
@psg His aura made it all the way to Paris π«π·β¨Β #psg #indonesia #aurafarming β¬ original sound – ππππππ
It was in the comment sections of Dika's viral videos that some users, allegedly Malaysian netizens, were seen claiming that pacu jalur originated in Malaysia
These remarks sparked an uproar among Indonesians, drawing the attention of politicians and cultural officials.
Riau Governor Abdul Wahid acknowledged that cultural assimilation is inevitable, especially between neighbouring countries, but stressed that pacu jalur is a long-standing tradition deeply rooted in the Riau community, reported Detik.
The tradition can be traced back to the 17th century in Kuantan Singingi, Riau. Originally held during Islamic holidays, the race has since evolved into a national celebration in the lead-up to Indonesia's Independence Day.
While Wahid did not take issue with the claims allegedly made by Malaysian netizens, he urged the public to look at the facts and reality of pacu jalur, which has now gained global recognition.
"Well, they're free to make such claims, but this tradition has existed for a long time due to cultural assimilation. Just look at the facts and reality β it's here in Kuantan Singingi," said Wahid.
He has since appointed Dika as Riau's tourism ambassador.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon confirmed that pacu jalur was officially registered as a national intangible cultural heritage, reported Antara.
Even Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka joined the trend, posting a video on social media imitating Dika's dance moves in a gesture of support for the cultural tradition's growing global influence.
11-year-old dancer Ryyan Arkan Dikha.
Image via @rayyanarkandikha (Instagram)But did Malaysian netizens actually claim the tradition as ours?
One TikTok user took it upon themselves to investigate the origins of the alleged comments.
They reviewed four accounts that made the claims, all of which listed Indonesia as their country of origin.
Murai.my noted that while a pacu jalur event was held in Perlis, it was merely an initiative to introduce the sport to Malaysians, particularly in a state with strong cultural ties to the Riau community.
The event was never presented as part of Malaysia's official cultural heritage, nor was it promoted as a national tradition.
In today's social media era, even a single random comment can snowball into headline news, especially when it touches on the ever-sensitive 'Malaysia vs Indonesia' narrative, reported Murai.my.
The news ported noted that such a phenomenon is a recipe for clickbait, designed to stir emotions and draw in views.
