Bahlil Asks That Golkar’s 62nd Anniversary Celebrations Not Be Held at a Hotel

The Chairman of the Golkar Party, Bahlil Lahadalia, has asked the party’s leadership and regional members to organise the 62nd anniversary celebrations in a modest manner.

Golkar will commence a series of anniversary events over the next two months, culminating in the main event this coming November in Bandung, West Java.

Deputy Chairman and Head of the Golkar Anniversary Organising Committee, Wihadji, stated that the party’s Chairman had instructed that the anniversary celebrations should not be held in a lavish manner, such as in hotels.

“The Chairman’s message, on his instructions, is that the entire series of events, including the main event and formal activities, should be conducted modestly. There must be no events held in hotels,” said Wihadji at the Golkar Central Executive Board office in Jakarta on Monday (19 October).

According to him, all levels of the party must understand the current public sentiment, particularly amidst a number of disasters in various regions. Throughout the series of events, Wihaji said, the anniversary celebrations will feature a number of activities.

Wihaji said the programme would range from a visit to the Kalibata Heroes’ Cemetery and a blood donation drive on 20 October, to the distribution of free basic foodstuffs on 25 October, a number of sports competitions, and a short film-making competition.

“The main rally will take place in West Java, specifically in Bandung, involving 62,000 Golkar cadres,” he said.

Wihaji added that the organising committee would also draw up technical guidelines regarding the anniversary celebrations in the regions. However, in principle, he said, the anniversary celebrations must not be held in a lavish manner.

“We leave it to each regency and city to be creative and innovative in organising this series of activities, provided that the message from the Chairman remains one of simplicity,” he said.