JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Daniel Johan stated that the celebration of the 2023 Chinese New Year is a momentum of enthusiasm to remove discrimination.
"Imlek is a symbolic moment of enthusiasm for this nation, to remove all forms of discrimination by the state to its citizens," said Daniel Johan in a discussion, at the DPP Office of the National Awakening Party (PKB), quoted by Antara, Friday, January 20.
According to him, the momentum of Chinese New Year is not only for Chinese people, but all citizens in Indonesia. This, he said, has been regulated in Law (UU) Number 40 of 2008 concerning the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination.
Daniel Johan is a Chinese figure who took part in the journey of the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur in an effort to eliminate discrimination in Indonesia.
He recounted a dark history when ethnic Chinese received discrimination from the state.
"My advice, in all schools is to ban Mandarin lessons. Not only lessons, but shops, restaurants, there should be no Mandarin writing. In fact, in the past, it was not allowed to store or own a Mandarin film or cassette. If it is done it is considered unlawful," he also said.
In fact, he had felt, how the identity number on the identity card (KTP) was given a symbol in the form of a point.
He is grateful that all forms of discrimination ended after Gus Dur revoked Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 14 of 1967 which was made in the New Order era.
Gus Dur then issued Presidential Decree No. 6 of 2000 which became the beginning for Chinese people in Indonesia to get the freedom to embrace their religion, beliefs, and customs, including religious ceremonies such as Chinese New Year openly.
"Gus Dur was even appointed as the Father of Chinese Indonesia," he said.
Human Rights (HAM) activist and founder of the Chinese library museum Azmi Abubakar explained that the discrimination was due to the wrong perspective, due to limited information received by the public.
"If people knew what the Chinese people looked like and their contribution to this nation and country, then their perception would change," he asserted.
As a descendant of Acehnese, his mindset about Chinese has changed, after gaining so much history and information about their patriotship in the archipelago.
"I don't know, so I don't care, but I'm sure that getting to know will fall in love and be amazed. I don't think there is any place left to store negative feelings or bad views," he also said.
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