We should be grateful that this year’s Christmas can be celebrated during a much better COVID-19 condition...Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani said the spirit of Christmas celebration hopefully brings peace to the people as well as bolster the nation's ties of brotherhood.
"To all Christians in Indonesia, we wish you a happy Christmas in 2022. May the spirit of Christmas become a momentum for us to maintain the ties of our brotherhood," she said in a statement received on Sunday.
She also invited the public to continue strengthening inter-religious tolerance and collaboration.
She has emphasized that thanks to all stakeholders' mutual cooperation, Indonesia is currently preparing to change the status of COVID-19 situation in the country from pandemic to endemic.
"We should be grateful that this year’s Christmas can be celebrated during a much better COVID-19 condition, thus Christians are able to carry out their worship more solemnly in churches as well as gather with their families," the House speaker remarked.
She asked the central and regional governments as well as the military and police to maintain the comfort and security for Christians celebrating the holy day.
"Thank you to officers, volunteers, and all parties who have contributed to ensuring that our brothers and sisters can celebrate Christmas comfortably and peacefully," she noted.
Furthermore, she wished the public a happy New Year 2023, as well as invited them to take lessons from their experiences throughout this year, which may be useful for overcoming various challenges in the future.
"To all Indonesian people, we wish you to welcome the New Year 2023 with joy. Entering the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, let's start the new year with new energy," Maharani remarked.
She also reminded the public to continue to strengthen the spirit of mutual cooperation in 2023, as well as to remain alert and disciplined in implementing a healthy lifestyle although, currently, the COVID-19 situation has been under control.
"Let's move forward together for (the advancement of) Indonesia," she added.
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Translator: Melalusa Khalida, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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