Indonesian State Officials Extend Chinese New Year Greetings

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and some cabinet ministers extended their good wishes to the Chinese community in the country over the weekend.

Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. The government declared Monday, Jan. 23 as a collective leave day in addition to the Chinese New Year festival on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Jokowi conveyed his greetings on the @jokowi Twitter handle, hoping that tomorrow will be better for all.

"Time changes, the year passes, and new challenges appear, but one that must remain is the hope that tomorrow will be happier, more prosperous, and more advanced. Gong xi fa cai [May you have a prosperous new year]," Jokowi wrote.

Also read: Glutinous Rice Cakes, Fish, and More: Chinese New Year Favorites in Indonesia and Elsewhere

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that the Chinese New Year needs to be a momentum for self-introspection to evaluate the past and improve oneself.
“Let us make the Chinese New Year as a momentum to introspect ourselves, correct our past journey, and plan the upcoming year,” Yaqut said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 22.

The minister pointed out that Confucius had said that if people could renew themselves, then they should ensure that their renewal was continuous.

He also expressed hope that harmony could be realized to achieve an outstanding Indonesia.

"Happy Chinese New Year 2574 Kongzili. Gong he xin xi [Happy New Year], Wanshi ru yi [may everything go as wished], to all who practice the Confucian faith in Indonesia and everyone who celebrates it," the minister said.

Also read: Chinese New Year 2021: 5 Unique Traditions and Their Meanings

He also conveyed the Chinese New Year greetings through the ministry's official Instagram @kemenag_ri.

While conveying the greetings in the Instagram post, he quoted a section from a Confucian classic, the Great Learning, which reads, "to govern well their states, one must first harmonize their own family."

Moreover, several state officials also conveyed their Chinese New Year greetings, including the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar, through his official Instagram.

"Happy Chinese New Year, may we be blessed and successful," he said.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah also conveyed her greetings. "Happy Chinese New Year, Gong xi fa cai, may prosperity and happiness be abundant for all of us this year," she said.

Source: State News Antara