Heroes’ Day Momentum: Growing Support for Honoring Indonesia’s Second President Soeharto as a National Hero

Jakarta — As the nation commemorates Heroes’ Day 2025, calls are growing stronger for Indonesia’s second president, Haji Muhammad Soeharto, to be awarded the country’s highest honor as a National Hero.
Chairman of the National Leadership Council (Dewan Pimpinan Nasional) of the Indonesian Self-Reliant Workers’ Organization (DEPINAS SOKSI), Mukhamad Misbakhun, voiced full support for the proposal, saying that President Soeharto made extraordinary contributions to the Indonesian nation.

Misbakhun described Soeharto as a great figure who played a crucial role in Indonesia’s struggle for independence, national stability, and development.

“We regard General H.M. Soeharto as a figure who took part in Indonesia’s fight for independence, defended it, and later worked to fill that independence through nation-building,” he said on Friday (November 7, 2025).

Nurul Arifin, Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) and senior figure of the Golkar Party, also expressed support for the government’s plan to confer the title of National Hero on Soeharto.
According to her, Soeharto was a leader who laid a solid foundation for Indonesia’s economic growth.

“He made great contributions in maintaining national stability and laying the groundwork for economic development that brought Indonesia into an era of progress,” said Nurul.

Positive responses have also come from religious organizations. The Central Executive Board of Persatuan Islam (PP Persis) publicly supported the proposal to grant Soeharto the title of National Hero.

The Head of the Political and Public Policy Division of PP Persis, Muslim Mufti, stated that Soeharto’s lifelong dedication to the nation and the state deserves the highest recognition.

“Throughout his life, his service was devoted to the interests of the nation and the state. He fought persistently during the struggle for independence, serving as a military officer actively defending Indonesia’s sovereignty against Dutch forces,” Muslim said on Friday (November 7, 2025).

Soeharto is regarded not only as a freedom fighter but also as a statesman who left behind a lasting legacy of planned national development.
He laid the foundations for Indonesia’s rapid economic progress through structured and long-term policies.

Under his leadership, Indonesia achieved food self-sufficiency, built strategic infrastructure, and maintained stability that paved the way for national prosperity.