RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The 2026 Cap Go Meh Festival in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, has been lauded as a vital local cultural pillar. It strengthens Indonesia’s national identity through a powerful narrative of tolerance.

Speaking on behalf of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Deputy Speaker Bambang Wuryanto emphasized that the event serves as a living example of how diversity, rather than uniformity, defines the nation’s core strength.

During a speech delivered in front of the Singkawang Mayor’s Office on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Bambang asserted that the lessons of harmony found in Singkawang are applicable to the entire country.

"Let us send a message to the world that Indonesia stands firm as a nation that upholds peace, tolerance, and brotherhood," he declared, as quoted by Antara.

As the state institution mandated to ground the values of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, the MPR reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national harmony. Bambang explained that the MPR functions as a "grand house for interfaith dialogue" to nurture unity and strengthen tolerance.

He further noted that the institution ensures every citizen holds equal standing before the Constitution, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or race.

Acknowledging the historical context of the region, Bambang noted that the Chinese-Indonesian community has played an integral role in the nation’s journey. He highlighted their significant contributions to trade, education, healthcare, and the struggle for independence.

"The contribution of the Chinese community is inseparable from our national narrative," he said.

Bambang also mentioned that while history has faced challenges and wounds, the nation has learned that diversity is ultimately its greatest source of power.

Singkawang, often referred to as the "City of a Thousand Temples," has been a dynamic hub for the Chinese diaspora since the 18th century. Bambang concluded by honoring the long-standing coexistence between the Chinese, Malay, and Dayak communities.

"Together with the Malay and Dayak communities, they have birthed the multicultural harmony that we witness to this day," he concluded. ***