Can Tourists Wear the Indonesian Flag on Clothes or a Bikini in Bali?

T-shirts, caps or bikinis with a red-and-white motif sold openly in Bali souvenir shops are not banned for tourists to wear. The criminal risk lies in treating an actual Indonesian national flag with intent to defile or demean it, for example cutting it into a bikini, stepping on it, or tucking it into your trousers for content.

The question resurfaced in December 2025 and matters for Australian visitors, who are used to seeing their own flag printed on swimwear at home. The legal basis below was checked against the statute text on 1 November 2026.

What exactly is prohibited?

Article 24 of Law 24/2009 bars anyone from damaging, tearing, trampling, burning or doing anything else to the national flag with intent to defile or insult it; using the flag for advertising; flying a damaged, torn, faded, creased or dull flag; printing or writing anything on the flag; and using it as a roof, wrapping or cover in a way that lowers its honour.

The penalties now sit in the new Criminal Code (Law 1/2023), because its Article 622 repealed the criminal provisions of Articles 66-71 of Law 24/2009 from 2 January 2026:

• Article 234: defiling or insulting the flag, up to 3 years in prison or a category IV fine (Rp200 million).
• Article 235: advertising, a damaged or faded flag, writing on the flag or using it as wrapping, a category II fine (Rp10 million).
• Articles 236-237: the same for the Garuda Pancasila emblem, including using the emblem for purposes outside those set by law.

The key is the phrase "with intent to defile, insult or demean". Hukumonline (21 November 2024) notes the new code expressly requires that intent, and what counts as "defiling" is left to the judge.

So are red-and-white shirts and bikinis safe?

• "Indonesia" or "Bali" shirts with a small flag graphic: widely sold and worn by locals, especially around 17 August. No criminal cases found.
• Red-and-white patterned bikinis or swim shorts: these are not the national flag, so Article 24 does not automatically apply. Still think about context: sexual poses in that motif at a temple or during a ceremony could be pursued as an indecency matter.
• A real flag used as a beach sarong, towel or seat, or cut into clothing: this is the risky zone. Such acts are easily read as demeaning the flag.
• Writing names or signatures on a flag: falls under Article 235, a fine of up to Rp10 million.
• Shirts with the official Garuda Pancasila emblem: more sensitive than the flag because Article 237 limits use of the emblem. Stylised football-jersey designs are sold everywhere, but do not use the full official emblem for jokes.

The case that prompted the question

On 15 December 2025, a British content creator who had earlier been deported from Bali filmed herself with the Merah Putih tucked into the back of her trousers outside the Indonesian Embassy in London. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry called it an insult to a national symbol, and the embassy filed a complaint with UK authorities (Jawa Pos, 23 December 2025; detikSulsel, 25 December 2025). Her deportation and 10-year entry ban from Bali related to residence-permit and traffic violations, not the flag. Because the flag incident happened abroad, it was handled under UK law.

FAQ

Can I take a Merah Putih flag home as a souvenir?
Yes. Store it properly and do not use it as a mat or wrapping.

Can a tourist be deported over a flag?
Immigration can use Article 75 of Immigration Law 6/2011 (administrative action, including deportation) against foreigners deemed a threat to public order. See also rules on hammer-and-sickle and USSR shirts, what the new Criminal Code changes for tourists, and our summary of Bali rules.

What about a torn flag at a villa or beach club?
Flying a torn or faded flag falls under Article 235. That is the venue's responsibility, but do not use it as a photo prop.