Megawati Soekarnoputri Decides Lunar New Year National Holiday, Puan: Decision To Strengthen Brotherhood

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, said that the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, set the Chinese New Year as a national holiday in 2003, on the basis of strengthening unity and a sense of brotherhood.

"At that time, Mrs. Megawati, as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, announced that the Chinese New Year was a national holiday and officially took effect in 2003," said Puan, Friday, February 12.

According to Puan, Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is also her mother, declared the Chinese New Year a national holiday during a speech at the Chinese New Year celebration in Kemayoran, Jakarta.

"This decision was taken by Mrs. Megawati with the awareness of the importance of strengthening unity and a sense of brotherhood," said Puan.

Puan said that the Chinese New Year celebration as a national holiday has the spirit to strengthen unity and a sense of brotherhood. This spirit is important to be manifested in the midst of various challenges in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We can only pass this tough test if we unite, put our trust in God Almighty, and keep on endeavoring. Hopefully this year's Chinese New Year will strengthen the unity and spirit of brotherhood of the Indonesian nation," said the son of Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Although this year's Chinese New Year is celebrated with simplicity in the midst of the pandemic, Puan believes the meaning of this Chinese new year will not diminish.

"I congratulate the Chinese New Year to all Confucian people and people of Chinese descent. Let's in this metal buffalo year, we fill it with hard work that is the nature of the zodiac buffalo. We make this year the year Indonesia answers all challenges. The year of Indonesian recovery," he concluded.