Elegant Attitude of Indonesia in Responding to the Red and White Incident Reversed in Sea Games 2017 in Malaysia

By: Moch. Irfandi)*

The incipient incidence of the Red and White Flag belonging to Indonesia in the opening book of Sea Game 2017 organized by Malaysia certainly reaped many responses from various circles. This incidence is leaving a lot of questions about whether still sentimental attitude from Malaysia to Indonesia? But this incident proved to show how elegant Indonesia in addressing issues related to diplomatic relations between countries.

In response, the Government of Indonesia immediately moved quickly in addressing the issue of the Indonesian flag upside down in the opening guidebook of the 2017 SEA Games, and demanded Malaysia to apologize diplomatically over in the incident symbol of the Red and White flag, which was printed upside down.

The suit is a follow-up to the three ministers’ meeting, 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 Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee Erick Thohir.

Meanwhile, behind the regrets of President Jokowi in the incident, he directed to wait for an apology because it involves pride and nationalism. Nevertheless, the head of state requested that this issue need not be exaggerated.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, has met Menpora, Imam Nahrawi, to apologize regarding the image of the Indonesian flag printed upside down in the 2017 SEA Games implementation handbook.

Khairy said the mistake was unintentional. To make amends, Khairy claimed to have ordered that all the guidebooks not be circulated again, and to make new prints that have been revised. “And will be sent back to the state guests who attended the opening ceremony,” he said

According to Khairy, the Malaysian kingdom will later issue a formal apology. He expects people to consider apologies and can continue to foster good relations between the two countries.

Responding to the incident of Red and White Flag overturned, of course there will be many responses from various circles of society to the incident. But the thing that should be prioritized is how we as citizens of Indonesia not to exaggerate it and not provoked to avoid the disruption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, because we have seen for themselves the serious efforts of the Malaysian government to correct the error in the incident.

)* The author is CIDISS Contributor