Bogor Barber Clarifies Intimidation Claims After Meeting with Subdistrict Head Over Flag Dispute

Nurhidayat, also known as Kang Abuy, a barber who was scolded for not displaying the red and white flag in Rancabungur Subdistrict, Bogor Regency, West Java, has spoken out. He met with the Head of Rancabungur Subdistrict, Dita Aprilia.

During the meeting, Kang Abuy stated that he did not receive any intimidation from the subdistrict office during the flag installation outreach, as depicted in a circulating video.

“I, Kang Abuy or Nurhidayat, as a barbershop owner in Bantarkambing Village, confirm that there was no intimidation from the subdistrict office or the Satpol PP officer who participated in socialising the flag installation that day,” he said in a video received by detikcom on Thursday (13/8/2026).

Abuy stated that a party claiming to be from the media had asked him to install the flag and to make a clarification video as well as an apology regarding the commotion. The media party continued to record videos and bombard him with questions, disturbing him while he was serving customers.

“The one who forced me to make the clarification video was the media party,” he explained.

As reported by detikJabar, Abuy admitted that he never refused to install the Red and White flag. He also denied any coercion when he finally raised the flag.

“Not at all. No. It was my own initiative,” he said, referring to the Red and White flag now flying in front of his workplace on Jalan Atang Sanjaya, Bantar Jaya, Rancabungur.

Abuy’s remark about ‘not yet independent’ also went viral on social media. He explained that the statement was made because it was not yet 17 August, so the flag had not been installed.

“Actually, it did not lead to that. What I meant by ‘not yet independent’ was that it was not yet the day of Independence Day. Not yet the 17th,” he said.

Furthermore, he interpreted ‘not yet independent’ in the context of economic conditions such as the prices of basic necessities, fuel costs, the number of customers arriving, and the ability to bring home income for his family.

“The meaning of independence, from an economic perspective, I personally am not yet independent. I still feel lacking. Indonesia is already independent, but for me, for myself, it is not yet,” he said.

The Head of Rancabungur Subdistrict, Dita Aprillia, provided an explanation regarding the incident. She said the incident occurred on Friday, 7 August 2026.

“Every Friday and Tuesday, I and the subdistrict team always carry out clean-up activities on the roads. At that moment, because it is now August, we also distributed flags,” said Dita on Wednesday (12/8).

At that time, the stock of flags she was distributing was running low because they had been distributed since 1 August. Her office distributed flags selectively based on the condition of the community, considering the many villages that needed to receive them.

“At the barbershop, because we in Rancabungur know that the barber is still young, still productive, and the place is busy. At that time, for that area, I had run out of flags, so I appealed to him. ‘Hey, you haven’t installed a flag yet, please install one,’” she said.

The barber had initially agreed to Dita’s appeal to install the flag. According to her, installing the Red and White flag is a symbol of nationalism during the independence month.

“Because in previous years we also appealed, not only this year, for flag installation. Now, I even had to go door to door because of the date,” she explained.

According to her, the installation appeal was in accordance with the Bogor Regent’s Circular through the National Unity and Political Agency (Bakesbangpol). Thus, there was a regulatory basis for her actions.

“At that time, there was a media friend who helped us. Initially, he did not intend to help with publicity; he wanted to help appeal to residents and help with cleanliness. Initially, he did not intend to help us with publicity,” she explained.

When at the barbershop location, Dita admitted that she took a short break to rest after the journey. However, it turned out that the person Dita referred to as a ‘media friend’ got into a verbal altercation with the barber.

She also denied that the person involved in the altercation with the barber was a subdistrict employee. The person was merely helping her to appeal to residents.

“That was not a subdistrict employee,” she said.