Minister AHY Celebrates Lunar New Year in Batam, Praises City's Harmony and Progress

Lunar New Year 2577 celebrations in Batam were held in grand fashion, with hundreds of guests filling the ballroom of the Swiss-Belhotel Harbour Bay in Batuampar on Monday evening (16/2/2026).

Lion dance performances and the Yuu Sheng procession enlivened the occasion.

The event also marked the first time Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) celebrated Lunar New Year in Batam.

“There’s no particular reason. It’s just that I’ve never celebrated Lunar New Year in Batam before, and this year, which is apparently also a tradition, it’s extremely lively,” AHY said when met in Batam.

AHY described Batam as a city with unique appeal and positive energy.

“Once again, Batam is always special. Hopefully this can also serve as positive energy for other regions,” he said.

He also assessed Batam as a peaceful and multicultural city, possessing strong social capital for continued development.

“Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is not merely a slogan but is truly grounded, especially here in Batam, which is renowned as a peaceful, multicultural city that continues to deliver progress,” he added.

On the same occasion, AHY also addressed Batam’s strategic position in national development.

“Batam continues to be one of the laboratories serving as a gateway to the economy at the Southeast Asian regional level, but also globally,” he said.

The politician, born in 1978, also stated that under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the current government is focused on building the economy through strengthening infrastructure and strategic zones.

According to him, the founding spirit of Batam as a premier economic zone must continue to be safeguarded collectively.

“Hopefully, in keeping with the founding spirit of Batam, we can truly continue to steward it so that the economic sector, business, and tourism continue to advance and develop for shared prosperity,” he said.