show that Indonesian and Malaysian literatures grew and developed out of
the same old tradition, namely Malay tradition. Indonesian and Malaysian languages are
also rooted in the same language, namely, the Malay language. It only makes sense that there
a number of similarities
This paper discusses the nationalist ideas found in the poems of M. Yamin published in
Indonesia Tumpah Darahku and a number of poems produced by 10 Malaysian poets. These
Malaysians’ poems are found in a poetry anthology titled Puisi-puisi Kebangsaan 1913—1957
(nationalist poems 1913—1957) compiled by Abdul Latif Abu Bakar and published in 1987.
Based on a comparison of these two sets of poems, some similarities can be discerned, such as
admiration of natural beauty, admiration of past heroes and glories, and appeal by the poets
for national unity. These similarities are made possible by similar political and cultural situations
prevailing in both Indonesia and Malaysia in certain period of time. The relation between
Indonesia and Malaysia that is tied by a common language (Malay) and a sense of being in
the same situation (colonial oppression) are other factors that allow a number of Indonesian
and Malaysian poets to write poems of similar themes in similar styles.