Chinese New Year Becomes Holiday for Ethnic Chinese in IndonesiaIndonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has agreed that the Chinese new year to become a holiday for ethnic Chinese in the country, a senior official said."That is a facultative. It is not a national holiday yet. (But the president allowed) it to be a holiday for those who celebrate (the spring festival)," Antara news agency Friday quoted State Secretary Djohan Effendi as saying. Chinese new year, locally called "Imlek", is due to fall on January 24, and many parties have suggested the day as a holiday. Chairman of the People Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais has expressed his support to such a suggestion. Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hassan also filed a proposal to the president to declare the "Imlek" as holiday. |
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