Jakarta – As Indonesia commemorates the 80th Anniversary of Independence, the public is urged to honor the Red and White flag (Merah Putih) as the nation’s primary symbol of freedom. The Merah Putih is not merely a piece of cloth, but a representation of sovereignty, dignity, and the sacrifices of national heroes.
For this reason, the government emphasized that no other symbols should be raised alongside the national flag.
Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi stated that President Prabowo Subianto has no objection to people raising the pirate flag from the One Piece manga, the Jolly Roger, as long as it is understood purely as a form of expression.
“If it’s just an expression, it’s okay, there’s no problem,” said Prasetyo.
However, he stressed that the President does not want the flag to be paired with or placed in opposition to the Merah Putih.
“But don’t let it be used in a way that clashes with, is placed alongside, or is set against the Merah Putih,” he emphasized.
Prasetyo underlined that the Merah Putih is the only flag that must be raised during Independence Day celebrations.
“It shouldn’t be like that. For us as a nation, the Merah Putih is the one and only,” he said firmly.
He also reminded the public not to be provoked by groups inciting people to prioritize other symbols over the national flag.
“Pitting it against the Merah Putih—for example, provoking people to prefer raising another flag instead of the Merah Putih—that’s not right, that shouldn’t happen,” Prasetyo said.
Similarly, the Speaker of the Pangkalpinang City Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Abang Hertza, criticized social media trends that place the national flag side by side with foreign pop culture symbols. According to him, this reflects a lack of understanding among young generations about the true meaning of independence.
“Young people must understand that Indonesia’s independence did not come easily—it came from a long struggle full of sacrifice. We must not diminish the meaning of that struggle by disrespecting national symbols,” Hertza stressed.
He further asserted that the Merah Putih represents the nation’s pride.
“The Merah Putih is not a fashion statement. It is the symbol of our nation’s dignity,” he declared.
Mau saya ubah lagi jadi gaya rilis resmi pemerintah dalam bahasa Inggris (lebih formal dan diplomatis), atau tetap straight news translation seperti ini?
