The various challenges which may come next year should not discourage us.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is grateful that the public can celebrate the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year more merrily since there is minimum public activity restrictions.

"Unlike the previous two years (in 2020 and 2021), we can welcome this year's Christmas celebration with more joy. Currently, we can return to our respective hometowns to attend the Christmas worship at churches and gather with our relatives," he noted in a video posted in his social media account @luhut.pandjaitan on Sunday.

According to the survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry, around 44.7 million people are predicted to travel during the year-end holidays.

The minister is pleased because the figure indicated that the implementation of public holiday celebrations has started to return to normal level prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

"However, we still have to stay vigilant and take care of our health, given the minimum restrictions on this Christmas and New Year holidays," he remarked.

He has also reminded the public to be prepared for a number of challenges in 2023, for instance the prediction of declining economic growth of various countries worldwide.

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Hence, the government will continue to strive to mitigate the impacts of the challenges.

"The various challenges which may come next year should not discourage us," Pandjaitan said.

Hence, he encouraged the community to continue working together and helping each other.

He also invited the people to keep praying to God Almighty for Him to guide the nation to get through the difficult time.

"Let's all collaborate together. From the bottom of my heart, I, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and my family wish you a Merry Christmas 2022 and a happy New Year. May this Christmas continue to bless us with happiness, peace, and love to our fellow mankind," he added.

Earlier, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi had stated that the government would not limit the mobility of people during the year-end holidays.

To maintain smooth public mobility and security during Christmas and New Year celebrations, the National Police has been implementing the 2022 Operasi Lilin – means Candle Operation – on December 22, 2022, to January 2, 2023, at 52,636 locations throughout Indonesia.

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Translator: Ade Junida, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022