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Singaporean visitor who arrived through the Batam International Center Port in Batam, Riau Islands, on Saturday was detained by officers from the Batam City Military Command for wearing a red T-shirt with a sickle and hammer, the symbol of communism.

Azri Zulfarhan bin Kamsin, who came to Batam with his wife and child, was stopped while walking from the Batam Center port to the Mega Mall shopping center, which are connected by a bridge. Azri was then led by the officers to an interrogation room, where he was questioned about his T-shirt.

A territorial section officer of the military command, Baziduhu Zebua, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday the incident began when officers on duty at the port noticed a man wearing a T-shirt bearing the communist hammer and sickle symbol.

“The communist symbol was the problem. It may not be a problem in Singapore, but he should have respected our customs here where communism is banned. That is why officers examined him and asked him to remove the T-shirt,” said Baziduhu.

He added after realizing his misdeed, the Singaporean was released the same day, but his shirt was seized by officers.