Jakarta. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has apologized for the recent upside-down Indonesian flag incident at the pre-show of the sports championship 2023 SEA Games, which is now taking place in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen made the apology directly to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo when both leaders met on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo on Wednesday. 

“Prime Minister Hun Sen apologized for the upside-down Indonesian flag incident at the start of the SEA Games’ opening ceremony,” Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said.

The flag gaffe happened during a music performance by local artists at the pre-show of the opening ceremony last Friday. The dancers were seen holding the Indonesian flags upside-down. Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo recently met with his Cambodian counterpart Hang Chuon Naron in Phnom Penh following the incident.

“He [Minister Hang] expresses his apology to all Indonesians for the mistake,” Dito was quoted as saying in a recent press statement.

The 2023 SEA Games will run until May 17. As of May 10 at 2.20 p.m. Jakarta time, Vietnam is currently taking the lead with 135 medals and 42 gold. Indonesia ranks fourth in the medal standings with 109 medals, 29 of which are gold. 

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