BRIN Apologises for Improper Use of Garuda Pancasila Emblem

Jakarta — The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has issued a public apology for misusing the state emblem, the Garuda Pancasila, in its commemoration of Pancasila Day on 1 June 2026.

The apology was posted by BRIN through its X account @brin_indonesia on Monday, 1 June 2026 at 5:00 PM Indonesian Western Time.

In the statement, BRIN acknowledged the error in displaying the content and described it as an important lesson to exercise greater care in the content creation and distribution process.

BRIN’s full apology statement read:

“This serves as a lesson for us to be more thorough, careful, and attentive in the process of creating and distributing content in the future. As a demonstration of responsibility and internal evaluation, the content in question has been corrected. We express our gratitude for the attention, feedback, and oversight provided by all levels of society to BRIN.”

The posted image showed the Garuda Pancasila emblem with non-conforming depictions, such as an incorrect number of tail feathers, which should number eight according to official specifications.

According to the Indonesian Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP), each element of the emblem carries symbolic meaning. The 19 small tail feathers represent various aspects of national symbolism, whilst the 45 feathers on the neck signify 1945, the year of Indonesian independence.

The agency has since corrected the content as part of its internal evaluation process.