Indonesia’s national flag, printed upside down, is seen on the guidebook of the Opening Ceremony of the 29th South East Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Yau)
Indonesia has accused the Malaysian organizers of the Southeast Asian Games of negligence after the Indonesian flag was printed upside down in a souvenir guidebook. The mistake, which makes the red-and-white Indonesian flag resemble Poland’s, has caused anger in Indonesia where “shameonyoumalaysia” has become the most popular hashtag on Twitter.
Indonesia’s Olympic Committee chairman Erick Thohir said the mistake “shows negligence” and demanded the guidebook be withdrawn and a new version printed. “Friendship is the greatest legacy in sports, but a mistake in presenting a national identity is not justified,” he said.
Indonesia appears to have taken particular offense because the guidebook was distributed to VIPs at Saturday’s opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur for the 29th Southeast Asian Games and only its flag was shown incorrectly. Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said the error was “very painful.”
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo also called for an apology but cautioned against exaggerating the incident. “We are waiting for an apology from the Malaysian government because this is related to the pride of our nation,” Jokowi said Sunday.
The Malaysian Organizing Committee said its chairman and Malaysia’s sports minister would meet with Nahrawi to apologize. “We very much regret the mistake,” it said in a statement.
Malaysia and Indonesia are both Muslim majority nations and share a similar language but often trade accusations of stealing the other’s food and culture. The creation of Malaysia when the British empire was dismantled after World War II was bitterly opposed by Indonesia, itself then a new nation emerging from Dutch colonial rule and a short-lived Japanese occupation.
On Twitter, Indonesians said their flag represents the sacrifices of independence heroes and accused Malaysia of either being stupid or deliberately misprinting it. “You know, this is maybe the reason why our founding father Soekarno wanted to Kick Your Ass,” said one user.
