VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta - Voinews: Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the culture of gotong royong had saved Indonesia from the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President admitted that he was very pleased with the behavior of the people who maintained a culture of helping each other, helping each other, and working together at the beginning of the pandemic that hit Indonesia. "Help each other, work together, and hand in hand, that is our country Indonesia, the country of Pancasila.

That is what saves us, helping each other, helping each other, and working together," said Jokowi at the opening of the 2023 National Chinese New Year Celebration at Banteng Square, Jakarta, Sunday. The president asked the public to be grateful for Indonesia's success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic which was relatively good and recognized the international world."Don't forget to be grateful that PPKM was revoked at the end of 2022 in December.

We often forget when it's delicious. Forget that it's normal now, even though this is still in a transition period," he said. Jokowi reminded that Indonesia had experienced difficult circumstances in meeting various needs for handling the COVID-19 pandemic, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), oxygen cylinders, and vaccines. This, he said, was exacerbated by the closure of public places that had to be taken to deal with the spread of COVID-19, such as malls, markets, cinemas, places of worship, to stalls and small shops.

Therefore, the President called for the culture of gotong royong and mutual help to be maintained entering the transitional period after the lifting of the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM). "The big ones work hand in hand with the small ones, the middle ones work hand in hand with the small ones, the big ones work together with the small ones, all partners, a hand in hand partnership. If during a pandemic it is possible, even during normal times we must continue to help each other, helping each other so that everything will lift each other up," said Jokowi .

Previously, the Head of State began his remarks by conveying Kongzi Li's Happy Chinese New Year 2574 to all the people celebrating. "Happy Chinese New Year 2574, Gong Xi Fa Cai.

May happiness and prosperity always be with us all," said Jokowi. Also present at the opening of the 2023 National Chinese New Year Celebration included the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Mahfud MD, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir, National Police Chief General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Indonesian Fifth President Megawati Seokarnoputri. (VOI/Akbar)