"The celebrations of Christmas and New Year's 2022 are still being conducted in a simple way without being excessive, because we must continue to maintain and improve our discipline in following the COVID-19 health protocols," Pandjaitan noted in one of his posts uploaded on his personal Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Saturday.
The minister pointed out that in the past two years, Indonesia had been battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister expressed gratitude over the significant decline in the number of positive confirmed cases and death rates. He also thanked God, as the pandemic could be faced together and eventually surmounted.
"This is all thanks to our prayers and efforts together, and with us working hard and being united, we are able to do this in an integrated manner," he affirmed.
Pandjaitan also advised to increase concern over health and adherence to health protocols.
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"I believe and hope that in future, we would be able to fight together to face this difficult time. Do not become arrogant, stay humble, and everyone must keep working together. Those are the keys to our success in dealing with this for the past two years,” he recalled.
He also reminded the public to not become euphoric after the COVID-19 cases were brought under control, as the pandemic was still ongoing. On the positive side, Indonesia’s economic recovery was progressing at a much faster rate as compared to other countries.
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“We can be proud, but we should not be arrogant. I expect that we do not become complacent because there is still a long way to go (to emerge) from COVID-19. There is still much we do not know about COVID-19, and we are lucky to be one of the few countries whose economic recovery is rapid, even though we have been attacked by the delta variant," he remarked.
Pandjaitan expects everyone to unite together against the pandemic that continues to haunt Indonesia.
"May the God, Most Merciful, be with us in 2022, (guiding us to) make Indonesia even better," he concluded.
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Translator: Ade Irma J, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
