SEA Games: Indonesia Files Protest After Flag Printed Upside Down

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian flag was printed reversed in 2017 SEA Games guide book.

The incident prompted protests aamong Indonesian delegates in the middle of the opening of the Games held in Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday (19/8).

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi discovered the upside-down flag firsthand. It was printed on page 80 on the guide book distributed to officials attending SEA Games opening ceremony.

"I think this is reckless. Very reckless. I think it marred the grandeur of 2017 SEA Games opening ceremony witnessed by millions of people," the Minister said while showing the image of inversed Indonesian flag.

Due to this incident, he said he would coordinate across ministries including Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs and  Ministry of Law and Human Rights, to police representatives who attended the most prestigious opening in South East Asia.

The result of the meeting, he said, will be the basis for follow-up measures.

Furthermore, the Indonesian government has not filed any official complaints neither written nor spoken, he said

"We will definitely file a complaint. We are also waiting for a direct apology from the Malaysian government. It is such a shame that this prestigious and special event marred by this incident," Imam continued.

The printed Indonesian flag was intended to showcase countries which had hosted Games the past since 1979, 1987, 1997, and 2011.

However, the printing error only occurred to the Indonesian flag. There were no mistakes for the other 10 participating countries in 2017 SEA Games despite the fact that their flags have more colors compared to two-tone red-and-white of Indonesian flag.

ANTARA