European Journal of Political Science Studies ISSN: 2601 - 2766 ISSN-L: 2601 - 2766 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/soc Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved 46 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.3697180 Volume 3 │ Issue 2 │ 2020 THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN THE CHINESE ETHNIC RELIGION IN THE ORDE BARU PERIOD IN PADANG, INDONESIA Erniwati i , Zul Asri, Yelda Syafrina, Zulfa Saumia Lecturer at Department of History, Faculty of Social Science, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia Abstract: The Orde Baru carried out various restrictions and a number of attempts to eliminate the Chinese elements in the ethnic Chinese life through Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967, unfortunately, cannot be said to be successful. The ethnic Chinese of Padang during the Orde Baru made adjustments to the rules of the country at that time. In religious life, ethnic Chinese in Padang carry out various religious conversions for a variety of reasons, ranging from themselves, the school environment, colleagues and administrative matters. Padang with its long history as a multi-ethnic area has its own mechanism in maintaining the boundaries of tolerance between ethnic groups so that each has the opportunity to maintain the cultural values. Keywords: Orde Baru, the role of the state, religious life, Chinese ethnic, Padang 1. Introduction This section should comprise a description of the general framework, definitions and principles, primary issues and controversies, background information and contexts, etc. The State, according to Weber, is a political unit that has territory, population and government that is able to control the territory and treat all citizen equally without ethnic discrimination (Semma, 2008). The purpose of the formation of a state is to stop the occupation, violence and the most fundamental one is the realization of shared interests and protect the rights of its people (Madjid, 2004). For this reason, the state has the right to regulate all aspects, whether political, economic, social or the cultural aspect. i Correspondence: email erniwatinur@fis.unp.ac.id