Grace Natalie Hopes No More Crowd Permits Needed for Worship

Jakarta – Grace Natalie, Secretary of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), firmly hopes that in the future, there will no longer be a requirement for crowd permits for worshippers wishing to carry out their religious observances.

She expressed this during the Easter celebration held by the DPP PSI at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. They used the Easter momentum to voice issues concerning freedom of worship, particularly for minority groups.

“Balai Sarbini here, on Sundays, is utilised as a place of worship. This illustrates how thirsty people are to worship, but they are not allowed or find it difficult to obtain permits, so they end up squeezing into shophouses, malls, where every week they must obtain and renew crowd permits. We hope that in the future, there will be no need for crowd permits for worship,” she said on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.

Grace also touched on society’s view of the political world, which is often seen negatively. However, according to her, politics remains an important space because all public policies originate from there.

“I know that politics is not something everyone wants to touch. It’s a bit scary and frightening perhaps, even with the recent news, we might have mixed reviews about politics. But who makes the regional regulations? Who makes the laws? It’s the politicians in the legislature and executive,” she said.

Furthermore, Grace affirmed PSI’s commitment to opening spaces for minority groups to participate in political contests, especially in legislative elections.

“PSI gives them space to contest and finally they are elected as legislators not only in Christian strongholds but in many other places,” said Grace.

According to her, PSI cadres who are now in parliament are also continuously monitored for their performance. Even, several cadres are said to have successfully advocated for the birth of regional regulations (Perda) related to tolerance.

“After they become council members, they report their performance regularly. Then, in some places where PSI has a faction, I receive updates that they are advocating and passing tolerance-related Perdas in their respective areas,” she stated.