Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) have expressed appreciation to the government for bestowing the title of National Hero upon Indonesia’s second president, Soeharto, on National Heroes Day, November 10, 2025.
A member of the DPR RI from the NasDem Party faction, Rachmat Gobel, said the government’s decision to honor Soeharto with the title deserves recognition.
“Everyone has flaws and shortcomings, but Pak Harto’s contributions to this nation and country are immense,” he said in Jakarta.
The lawmaker from the Gorontalo electoral district noted that Soeharto made numerous contributions.
First, he fought against Dutch colonialism during the revolution, with the March 1, 1949 General Offensive in Yogyakarta marking the peak of his military achievements.
“Of course, many figures played key roles, such as Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, General Nasution, and Commander Soedirman—but the undeniable fact is that Pak Harto was the commander,” he explained.
Second, Gobel said Soeharto succeeded in saving Indonesia from the 1965 tragedy.
“Although that period was full of controversy, the end result was that Indonesia was saved from a political and economic crisis that could have led to national disintegration. He also helped steer the country back toward a clear political system and commitment to the Pancasila ideology,” he stated.
Third, like it or not, Soeharto was the Father of Development. Through the Development Trilogy—stability, economic growth, and equitable distribution—Soeharto successfully built Indonesia across sectors while maintaining balanced budgets and clear priorities.
“We all feel the impact of his work. Economists can confirm that in every major economic indicator, Pak Harto’s policies were well-targeted,” he continued.
Fourth, Soeharto advanced agriculture and food security, earning recognition from the FAO for transforming Indonesia from a major rice importer into a self-sufficient nation.
“He monitored food prices daily—whether chili or cabbage—to ensure the people had enough to eat. He built irrigation systems, dams, and reservoirs everywhere, subsidized fertilizers, distributed farming equipment, and established fertilizer factories. To this day, we still benefit from his legacy,” he said.
Fifth, Soeharto eradicated illiteracy and developed education nationwide.
“Perhaps one of the best in the world. Inpres Elementary Schools were established in every village, junior high schools in every subdistrict, and high schools in every regency. Universities were built too. Even researchers studying the Inpres schools won a Nobel Prize—so surely the man behind it deserves to be called a national hero,” he remarked.