Makassar. A selection committee for Indonesia’s National Flag Hoisting Team in South Sulawesi has faced criticism on social media after an ethnic Chinese student failed to qualify despite reportedly ranking among the top three candidates.

Cathlyn Yvaine Lesmana, a student at Cerdas Bangsa High School in Makassar, took part in the selection process to represent South Sulawesi in the national flag-hoisting team. Local media reported that she placed in the top three and was initially expected to qualify, but her name was omitted from the final announcement, prompting allegations that ethnicity played a role in her removal.

A councilor said the South Sulawesi Legislative Council had received a formal complaint regarding the case and planned to hold meetings with relevant parties to ensure the selection process was transparent and fair.

“We regret that this issue has been framed around ethnicity,” councilor Andre Prasetyo Tanta said. “Makassar is a tolerant and non-discriminatory city, and ethnic background should not be linked to this matter.”

Andre also expressed moral support for Cathlyn and encouraged her to remain resilient amid the controversy.

He said the council had coordinated with the leadership of the South Sulawesi Legislative Council and other lawmakers after the issue went viral on social media.

“We have scheduled a hearing with the South Sulawesi provincial government and the selection committee on June 2,” he said. “The goal is to find the best solution and provide the public with clear, open, and transparent information regarding the reasons behind Cathlyn’s disqualification so the issue does not continue.”

Selection for Indonesia’s National Flag Hoisting Team is conducted by the provincial office of the National Unity and Politics Agency, which oversees recruitment both for regional ceremonies and for representatives sent to the national Independence Day ceremony on Aug. 17.

Local media reports alleged that Cathlyn had initially qualified for the national-level team but was later removed because of her ethnicity. Other reports claimed she failed a regional language test, further fueling criticism online as many social media users questioned the relevance of such a requirement.

Bustanul Arifin, head of South Sulawesi’s National Unity and Politics Agency, denied that ethnicity or regional language ability had influenced the selection process. He also said Cathlyn had still been assigned to serve in the provincial-level flag-hoisting team.