JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, revealed that the determination of the Chinese New Year to be a national holiday was decided in 2013. At that time, the national holiday was set by the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Puan said this in the 'Imlekan Bareng Banteng' event which was held by the PDI-P DPP and broadcast virtually.
Puan said that 19 years ago, Fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri set a speech at the Chinese New Year celebration in Kemayoran, Jakarta.
"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. This decision was taken by Ms. Megawati on her awareness of the importance of strengthening unity and a sense of brotherhood," said Puan, Friday, February 12.
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.
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