President Joko Widodo bestows the title of national hero to 5 figures from various regions in Indonesia. These five figures have contributed a lot to the country. The heirs received symbolically the national hero title. Then, Who are the five characters?
The award presentation, which was held in the framework of Hero’s Day 2022, was held at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (7/11/2022).
“Today, the government conferred the title of national hero to figures who have made great contributions to the nation and state,” said Jokowi at the State Palace, Monday (7/11/2022).
The award ceremony was attended by the heirs of the figures who also represented the recipients of titles and awards.
The event ended with congratulation from the Head of State and other limited guests to the heirs who received the title of national hero.
Based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 96/TK/the Year 2022 which was stipulated on November 3, 2022, the five figures who were awarded the title of the national hero were:
- The late Dr. dr. H. R. Suharto from Central Java Province;
- The late KGPAA Paku Alam VIII from the Special Region of Yogyakarta;
- The late dr. R. Rubini Natawisastra from West Kalimantan Province;
- The late H. Salahuddin bin Talabuddin from North Maluku Province,
- The late K. H. Ahmad Sanusi from West Java Province.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md as Chair of the Council for Titles, Merits and Honors said the five figures were chosen based on the community’s proposal. The five figures are considered to have contributed to the struggle to establish the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
First, the government will confer the title of national hero to the late DR dr HR Suharto from Central Java, who is considered to have fought with President Soekarno in the struggle for the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. In fact, after independence, the late DR dr HR Soeharto participated in the construction of some infrastructures in the country.
“Participated in the construction of the sharia department store and the construction of the National Monument and the Istiqlal Mosque and the construction of the Jakarta Hospital and one of the founders of the IDI (Indonesian Doctors Association),” said Mahfud Md as quoted from a written statement by the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.
Second, the government will confer the title of national hero to the late KGPAA Paku Alam VIII, who was the King of Paku Alam from 1937-1989. Some of the services that have been given by the late KGPAA Paku Alam VIII, among others, with Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX from the Yogyakarta Palace, integrating themselves at the beginning of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia so that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia becomes intact to this day.
Third, the government will confer the title of national hero to the late Dr. Raden Rubini Natawisastra from West Kalimantan. According to Mahfud, the late Dr. Raden Rubini Natawisastra had carried out a humanitarian mission as a traveling doctor at the time of independence. Even the deceased and his wife were sentenced to death by the Japanese because of their persistent struggle for the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
Fourth, the government will confer the title of national hero to the late H Salahuddin bin Talibuddin from North Maluku. For 32 years, the late H Salahuddin bin Talibuddin is considered to have struggled and helped build Indonesia based on Pancasila. “He was exiled to Boven Digoel in 1942 and also exiled to Sawahlunto in 1918-1923,” said Mahfud.
Fifth, the government will confer the title of national hero to the late KH Ahmad Sanusi from West Java. Mahfud explained that the late Kiai Ahmad Sanusi was one of the members of the Investigative Agency for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI) who had not yet received the title of the national hero. He is also an Islamic figure who fought for the basis of the state which resulted in the compromise of the birth of the Pancasila state.
