President kisses Red and White flag before handing it to bearer

President Prabowo Subianto kissed the Red and White flag before handing it to a Paskibraka member during the Commemoration Ceremony of the 81st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.

In an online broadcast from Jakarta on Monday, President Prabowo Subianto, wearing a blue beskap traditional Javanese attire, kissed the Red and White flag before lifting and handing it to the flag bearer from the ‘Indonesia Berdaulat’ Paskibraka Team assigned to this year’s ceremony.

Celina Olivia Apriani Theo, representing West Kalimantan Province and selected as the bearer of the Red and White flag, then received the heirloom flag and descended slowly for the flag hoisting.

The hoisting was carried out after President Prabowo had read the Proclamation text. This was followed by a moment of silence, during which the President also invited attendees to pray for the victims of disasters, including communities affected in Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and other regions.

As for the Paskibraka team itself, the Commander of Group 8 was entrusted to Achmad Fachri Mubarok from Jambi Province, who is currently studying at SMKN 1 Kota Jambi. The task of flag hoister was assigned to I Nyoman Harya Dhanurendra Darmamukti, a Paskibraka representative from South Kalimantan Province studying at SMAN 7 Banjarmasin. The team also included M. Aryo Wira Zandhyka Y from Bengkulu Province, a student at SMAN 7 Kota Bengkulu, as the flag unfurler.

The Presidential Secretariat, in its official broadcast today, explained that all selected members were ready to carry out their mandate in the Commemoration Ceremony of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence at Merdeka Palace.

The 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in 2026 carries the theme ‘Indonesia Berdaulat, Adil, dan Makmur’ (Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia).