TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia has deeply regretted the incident in which its national flag has been printed in the reference book of Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2017 upside down.

President Joko Widodo said here on Sunday that he deeply regretted the incident but called on the people not to make a big problem out of it.

Read: Malaysia Apologizes on Upside Down Flag Incident

"Let us just wait for an official apology from the Malaysian government. Let us not make a big problem out of it," he said after distributing land certificates to people in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

He said he had deeply regretted it because it had to do with national pride and patriotism.

"We deeply regret the incident but let us not magnify it. Let us wait for an official apology from the Malaysian government as it is about national pride and patriotism," he said.

Immediately after being aware that the Indonesian flag has been printed in the reference book of SEA Games 2017 upside down the Malaysian government offered an apology.

Malaysias sports minister Jen Khairy Jamaluddin had even pledged to personally meet Indonesian sports minister Imam Nahrawi to offer an apology.

Read: SEA Games: Indonesia Files Protest After Flag Printed Upside Down

The Indonesian Red and White flag was printed upside down in the reference book of SEA Games 2017 mentioning the country as being the host of the event in 1979, 1987, 1997 and 2011.

The book was distributed among officials who attended the opening of the event in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, it could be seen clearly that the Indonesian national flag was printed upside down.

ANTARA