"Quoting the late Gus Dur, no matter how much creativity exists in our democratic space, the Merah Putih must always be at the highest point," Eddy noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
His remarks came in response to the recent phenomenon of pirate flags from the Japanese manga *One Piece* being displayed ahead of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day on August 17.
Addressing those who argued that displaying the *One Piece* flag was a form of criticism, Eddy underscored the importance of dialogue and communication among the nation's elements.
"Our Constitution makes it clear that Indonesian democracy does not mean unlimited freedom—it is guided by deliberation and consensus," he affirmed.
Eddy highlighted that open and respectful communication is the best approach to addressing concerns within society.
"Engaging in constructive dialogue and respecting differing opinions while encouraging others to seek solutions together is far more productive than promoting messages that could disrupt social harmony," he stressed.
According to Eddy, President Prabowo Subianto is highly receptive to feedback and criticism from the public.
"In fact, the president does not rely solely on advice from his ministers but listens directly to voices from the grassroots," he stated.
"This has led to several pro-people policies, such as the cancellation of bad debts for MSMEs, the withdrawal of the planned 12 percent VAT hike, continued retail sales of 3-kg LPG cylinders, and the establishment of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative," Eddy noted.
In recent days, the public has been abuzz over the display of pirate flags from the One Piece manga series ahead of Independence Day.
The fictional flag features a black background with a grinning white skull and crossbones. The skull wears a yellow straw hat, the signature look of the series’ main character, Monkey D. Luffy.
As of Saturday (Aug. 2), several of these flags had been spotted in various regions across Indonesia. On social media, some users even changed their profile pictures to the anime’s pirate flag.
Related news: 'One Piece' flag flies amid protest and hope
Related news: Indonesia may ban display of 'One Piece' anime flags on I-Day
Translator: Melalusa, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
