---
title: "‘M’sia Wouldn’t Exist Without Indonesia’ — Indonesian Actor Boy Hamzah Claims, Sparks Backlash"
url: https://weirdkaya.com/msia-wouldnt-exist-without-indonesia-indonesian-actor-boy-hamzah-claims-sparks-backlash/
date: 2026-10-10
modified: 2026-10-10
lang: en
author: "Yu Ang Tan"
description: "Indonesian actor and model Boy Hamzah has sparked criticism from Malaysians after claiming that Malaysia “would not exist” without Indonesia. Screengrab via IG/boyhamzah Boy made the remarks while responding to..."
categories:
  - "Society"
tags:
  - "#Trending"
  - "Indonesian Actor Boy Hamzah"
  - "Malaysia"
  - "Sparks Backlash"
image: https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/%E2%80%98Msia-Wouldnt-Exist-Without-Indonesia-%E2%80%94-Indonesian-Actor-Boy-Hamzah-Claims-Sparks-Backlash.png
word_count: 403
---

# ‘M’sia Wouldn’t Exist Without Indonesia’ — Indonesian Actor Boy Hamzah Claims, Sparks Backlash

## TL: DR

- **Boy Hamzah claims:** Indonesian actor Boy Hamzah claims on Instagram that Malaysia would not exist without Indonesia, referencing the Malacca Sultanate and Parameswara.
- **Boycott debate escalates:** Boy argues that Malaysia's 34 million population cannot impact Indonesia's 290 million market following boycott calls over a FIFA ASEAN Cup meme.
- **Kamal Adli responds:** Malaysian actor Kamal Adli criticises the remarks and urges Malaysians not to let disputes over football and grooming products damage bilateral relations.

**Indonesian actor and model Boy Hamzah has sparked criticism from Malaysians after claiming that Malaysia “would not exist” without Indonesia.**

![Boy Hamzah 01](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/268526_Boy-Hamzah-01-.png)Screengrab via [IG/boyhamzah](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeLqnisRZhW/)

[Boy](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeLqnisRZhW/) made the remarks while responding to calls by some Malaysians to boycott Indonesian products following the controversy involving an Indonesian grooming brand.

## Says boycott would not affect Indonesia

Boy first argued that a Malaysian boycott would have little impact because of the difference in population size between the two countries.

He compared Malaysia’s population of around 34 million with Indonesia’s more than 290 million people, saying a boycott by Malaysian consumers would not significantly affect Indonesian brands.

However, Malaysian commentators later pushed back against that argument by pointing to Malaysia’s higher purchasing power, which means Malaysian consumers can still represent a valuable market for Indonesian brands.

## ‘Malaysia would not exist without Indonesia’

Boy then went further by bringing up the history of the Malacca Sultanate and Parameswara.

He claimed that Malaysia’s early Malay sultanates were founded or influenced by figures from areas that are now part of Indonesia, before concluding that Malaysia would not have existed without Indonesia.[ ](https://buzzkini.my/trending/2026/10/08/malaysia-tak-akan-pernah-wujud-tanpa-indonesia-kenyataan-aktor-indo-undang-kecaman-netizen-video/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

![Boy Hamzah 03](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/268527_Boy-Hamzah-03.png)Screengrab via [IG/boyhamzah](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeLqnisRZhW/)

The claim quickly drew backlash online.

However, several reports also noted that the historical argument is overly simplistic.

![Boy Hamzah 04](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/268523_Boy-Hamzah-04.png)Screengrab via [IG/boyhamzah](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeLqnisRZhW/)

Modern Malaysia and Indonesia did not exist as nation states during the era of Parameswara, and areas such as Palembang were part of a broader Malay world long before today’s national borders were established.

## Controversy began with Indonesian grooming brand

The exchange comes after an Indonesian grooming brand faced backlash in Malaysia over a football-themed social media post following Indonesia’s victory in the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

The brand posted a meme carrying the phrase “Hati-Hati Beda Level”, or “Careful, different levels”, which some Malaysian users interpreted as mocking neighbouring countries.

The brand later deleted the post and apologised, but calls to boycott the brand and its sister brand continued online.

## Malaysian celebrities respond

Malaysian actor Kamal Adli was among those who criticised Boy’s remarks, saying the situation should not escalate into personal attacks or insults against an entire country.

He later urged Malaysians not to respond to provocation and said disputes that began over football and products should not damage relations between Malaysians and Indonesians.

The controversy has since become another flashpoint in the ongoing online rivalry between users from both countries, with discussions now stretching beyond football and brands into history, national identity and economic comparisons.