REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Senior Advisor on Strategic Issues to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Djauhari Oratmangun, has stated that the Indonesian people should hold anger against Malaysia for printing the Indonesian flag appeared upside down in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017 booklet.

"I have seen many uploads or comments that have led to hate speech. These can trigger conflicts," Oratmangun stated after attending the ASEAN Business Talk here on Tuesday afternoon.

He pointed out that the people should be concerned about the target of ASEAN as one view, one identity, and one community in 2025.

It also includes efforts to improve prosperity for ASEAN member countries.

"The conflict among ASEAN member countries can actually hamper our common goal in 2025," he noted.

This condition has become one of the challenges of ASEAN that must be resolved.

"Since it is directly related to the economic situation in the region, if a conflict arises, all (investors) will avoid it," he affirmed.

The ASEAN Business Talk is organized by the ASEAN Public Relations Network, an institute for Southeast Asian, under the London School of Public Relations Jakarta.

Founder and Director of LSPR, Prita Kemal Gani, expected that businesspeople, practitioners, and the public can understand the importance of ASEAN for the progress of the country.

Malaysian Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin earlier offered an apology for the error to Imam Nahrawi. He also offered an apology to Indonesia and its people, adding that the Malaysian foreign minister has planned to officially offer an apology to the Indonesian government.

Jamaluddin revealed that he had ordered the committee to stop distributing the books and correct it before reprinting it for distribution to other guests.

Malaysian foreign minister Sri Anifah has offered an apology to the Indonesian state and people while communicating with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, besides producing a release offering an apology to Indonesia and its people.

Also read: People must hold anger over Indonesian flag error: Advisor

Former constitutional chief justice Mahfud MD said that Indonesia should strongly protest against Malaysia for the error.

"The case must be followed up with a diplomatic note of strong protest as it is not a light matter. That is a state symbol that may not be made fun of. There is a law that regulates state symbols. If this happened in the country, the punishment could be severe. That is why we must send a protest," he explained.

He pointed out that Malaysia¿s carelessness had angered and offended the people of Indonesia.

People are suspicious if Malaysia might have acted deliberately with regard to several unpleasant incidents that have happened in the past, he stated.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika