Shophouse Renants Ignore Seeing The Red And White Flag In Installed, Kesbangpol Belitung Do This

Evidence of the red and white flag that was lowered because it was not feasible (ANTARA/Kasmono/Apriliansyah)

TANJUNG PANDAN - The National Unity and Political Agency (Kesbangpol) of Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, lowered the Red and White Flag because it was no longer worth flying. "I lowered and replaced it with the worn and torn Red and White Flag with the new Red and White Flag," said an employee of Kesbangpol Belitung, Sulisman in Tanjung Pandan, Antara, Sunday, April 28. He received reports from the public regarding the existence of a worn and torn Red and White Flag on the yard of a shophouse on Hasyim Idris Street, Pangkalalang Village, Tanjung Pandan. According to him, the Red and White flag is still attached to the flagpole without being ignored by the shop renter. "As the one who received the call, I rushed to the location in question and found that the Red and White Flag was already shabby, torn, and the color was dull," he said. He deeply regrets this condition even though the Red and White flag is a symbol of the state as stipulated in Law Number 20 of 2009 concerning the Flag, Language, and State Emblem, as well as the National Anthem. "Arriving at the location, I immediately asked a shophouse tenant who asked not to be named that the flag had existed before he rented the shophouse, it is estimated that it has been installed since two years ago," he said. After that, without thinking and buying time, he immediately lowered the flag and replaced it with the new Red and White Flag. Sulisman believes the event has two positive and negative points of view. "The positive part is that I am proud that there are still people who care to report related to the Red and White Flag which is no longer appropriate to be installed," he said. Meanwhile, the negative side, he continued, is proof that the nationalism of the nation's generation has begun to disappear in responding to the important meaning and interpreting the Red and White flag which is a symbol of the state that must always be respected and guarded. "I feel called to replace the dull flag with a new flag," he said.

He hopes that this action can remind the public to always respect and maintain the symbol of the state, namely the Red and White flag. "The Red and White Flag has a historical meaning for the Indonesian people. To fly the Red and White flag requires the struggle and sacrifice of the nation's heroes with droplets of sweat, blood, and tears," he said.