Jokowi Officially Changes Name Of Isa Almasih Holiday To Jesus Christ

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). (Twitter Cabinet Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) issued a Presidential Decree (Keppres) which changed the nomenclature term Isa Al Still to Jesus Christ for the naming of a national holiday. Based on a copy document from the Presidential Secretariat (Keppres) in Jakarta, Tuesday, it was informed that the decision was contained in Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2024 concerning Holidays signed by President Jokowi as of January 29, 2024. In letter a the document mentioned three considerations behind the decision, namely that the arrangements regarding holidays are currently spread across several Presidential Decrees, so it is necessary to harmonize the arrangements for holidays. Letter b states that the arrangements for holidays as referred to in letter a need to accommodate and adjust the dynamics of the community and law. The consideration of letter c states that based on the consideration as referred to in letter a and letter b it is necessary to determine the Presidential Decree on Holidays. With that consideration, in the first dictum of numbers 7, 8, 9, and 10, there has been a change in the nomenclature to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Death of Jesus Christ, the Awakening of Jesus Christ (Paskah), and the Promotion of Jesus Christ.

The latest nomenclature is set together with 16 series of holidays, including January 1 AD New Year, 1 Muharam Hijri Islamic New Year, Isra Mi'raj Prophet Muhammad SAW, Eid al-Fitr (two days), Eid al-Adha, Birthday Prophet Muhammad SAW, Nyepi Holy Day ( Saka New Year), Vesak Day, Proclamation of Independence August 17, Pancasila Birthday June 1, and International Labor Day May 1. Furthermore, in the fourth dictum, it is stated that when the Presidential Decree is valid, then Presidential Decree No. 10 of 1971 concerning the Day of the Death of Jesus Christ is still declared a holiday or holiday is revoked and declared invalid. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Religion (Wamenag) Saiful Rahmat Dasuki said the change in the nomenclature of Jesus Al was still Jesus Christ on the naming of the national holiday based on proposals from Christians and Catholics. "This is a suggestion from Christians and Catholics so that the names of the nomenclatures are changed to a part of what they believe is the birth of Jesus Christ, the death of Jesus Christ, and the rise of Jesus Christ," he said.