By: Marwan Achmad)*
Indonesia’s national identity is a feature that can distinguish the state of Indonesia with other countries. Indonesia’s national identity was created and agreed upon by the founders of the Indonesian state. Indonesia’s national identity is contained in the Indonesian constitution, namely the 1945 Constitution in articles 35-36C. The national identity that shows the identity of Indonesia such as the national language or the language of unity is Indonesian, the flag of the country is the Red and White Flag, the national anthem of Indonesia Raya, the state symbol of Pancasila, the motto of the country, namely Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the state philosophy of Pancasila, The Basic Law) of the state, namely the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia which is the sovereignty of the people, the conception of the insight of the archipelago, and the regional culture which has been accepted as a national culture.
Red and White Flag is a symbol of Indonesian nationality championed by heroes to flutter with Indonesia’s tough as the emblem of symbol of independence. Respect for the Red and White Flag is a form of love for the nation of Indonesia, respecting the symbol of the country is the simplest form to show a sense of nationalism. Especially if we know the history of how the national heroes struggle to raise the Flag of Merah Putih.
Red and White flags, unlike the flags of other countries, if other countries such as the United States or other European countries, their country symbols can be found anywhere, for example in clothes, as cloth wrappers and so forth. But, for the Indonesian nation by paying homage to the flag of Merah Putih and singing Indonesia Raya song, that is an effort to appreciate every drop of sweat of the fighters first and their efforts to fight and waving red and white flag, but also as a form of pride to Indonesia Can be put together by the red and white flag and the national anthem Indonesia Raya.
Indonesia, is one of the ASEAN member countries where to strengthen the kinship among the ASEAN countries was held Southeast Asian Games or commonly called SEA Games. The SEA Games in 2017 only started on Saturday 19 August 2017, two days after Indonesia celebrated its 72nd Independence Day. However, there is a stir in the hearts of the people of Indonesia namely the opposite image of the flag of Indonesia in the guidebook SEA Games. Nevertheless, the organizers have apologized for the incident of the upside-down flag image issued by the organizers of the SEA Games by saying that the mistake was purely by accident.
The Indonesian flag loading error in the Sea Games guide book triggered Shame on You Malaysia’s tagline on Twitter – which has been used 70,000 times. The furor begins with the tweet of Menpora, Imam Nahrawi who is following the opening of the Sea Games in Malaysia.
In the tweet, he included a photo of the Sea Games book that contained the Indonesian flag upside down and wrote, “The opening of # SEAgame2017 is good but it is injured with a very painful fatal carelessness …. Our flag …. Red and White .. Astaghfirullaah …” Yes, Posts that include pictures of the book’s pages, Menpora Imam Nahrawi wrote istigfar.
In an official statement, the Indonesian foreign ministry through spokesman Armanatha Nassir said he had expressed disappointment through a diplomatic note and mentioned that the matter had been discussed by Indonesian Foreign Minister and Malaysian foreign minister on Saturday night.
Reasonable indeed if there is disappointment for the Indonesian nation, because the flag is not just a piece of cloth but more than that, as a symbol of national sovereignty and nationalism. However, the Indonesian nation should also be able to withstand excessive anger. As said by President Joko Widodo to wait for an official apology from the Malaysian government and it has been done by Malaysia through the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, the Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin, promised to withdraw the 2017 SEA Games guidebook which contains the image of the Indonesian flag upside down. The promise was delivered Khairy in a private meeting with Menpora Indonesia. Government through the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly and KOI Chairman Erick Thohir discussed the issue and delivered the Indonesian government statement on the sidelines of the water polo match between Indonesia and the Philippines At the Bukit Jalil Aquatic Center, Kuala Lumpur, Sunday. Therefore, in order for the SEA Games to go according to plan and this issue does not affect the performance of athletes, we should submit this issue to be resolved by government delegates in Malaysia. In addition, we as intelligent people should not issue hateful statements and submit this process to government representatives seeking a solution in Malaysia.
)* The author is CIDISS Contributor