TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Malaysian government has extended an apology for the upside-down printing of Indonesia’s flag in the souvenir guidebook for the Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games).
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that Malaysian officials apologized after they received a diplomatic message containing Indonesia’s disappointment in the fiasco.
The apology was extended less than a day after the incident was widely questioned by the public in Indonesia. Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has met with Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi to solve the problem.
Khairy Jamaluddin said that the flag printing mishap was unintentional and purely a technical mistake. They will also stop the circulation of the previously printed guidebook and will revise a new edition to be circulated in the near future.
Imam said that he personally understood the situation and accepted it as a genuine mistake. Khairy is planning to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to personally extend an apology.
Despite this, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo will continue to send an official letter to Malaysia to question the intention behind the printing mishap.
YOHANES PASKALIS PAE DALE | ANTARA