Nurfika Osman – The People's Democratic Defense, a fringe nationalist group that had announced plans to invade Malaysia, may think its fighting for its country and compatriot workers overseas, but an embassy official in Kuala Lumpur said they're only worsening the situation.

"Their plan to invade Malaysia and declare war has drawn huge attention [in Malaysia], which has only worsened bilateral relations and threatened the welfare of two million Indonesian workers," said Widyarka Ryananta, the head of the embassy's cultural division. "The migrant workers rely on Malaysia for their livelihood."

The group, also known as Bendera, claims to have the support of 8,000 migrant workers. But Ryananta said the group's plans had been attacked by the workers.

"Our workers in Perak state rallied, saying that they didn't support Bendera," Ryananta said. "This group is not only making Malaysians uneasy and scared, but it's also dividing its own compatriots."

He also said that during a visit to Entikong, West Kalimantan, which lies beside Malaysia's Serawak state, he found citizens there angry over Bendera's plan as it was disturbing their relations with their Malaysian neighbors.

"Those who are living in the border areas have a closer relationship with their neighbors and this group has damaged those normal relations," he said.

He said Indonesian officials in Malaysia would take legal action if Bendera pushed through with its invasion plans. "They don't have any right to do such things," Ryananta said.

Separately, a coordinator with Bendera said that the group was sticking to its invasion plan, despite the prohibitions and threats of being arrested by the National Police.

"We are going to declare war when all 1,500 volunteers have infiltrated Malaysia at the end of this month," Mustar said. "Now, our volunteers are spreading throughout Malaysia to check the conditions there."

About 200 Bendera volunteers were said to have left for Malaysia on Friday, with 125 more departing on Sunday. "We won't contact the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia as they don't support us," Mustar said.