Jakarta — Various groups have expressed appreciation for the government’s mature stance and the Indonesian people’s growing sense of national maturity in honoring the services of their leaders. In a televised dialogue titled “A Great Nation Honors Its Leaders and Heroes” on Kompas TV, figures from diverse organizations and academic circles agreed that such recognition represents a vital moment for strengthening reconciliation, leadership values, and the spirit of preparing the younger generation to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045).
Dr. Makroen Sanjaya, Head of the Council for Libraries and Information of Muhammadiyah’s Central Board (PP Muhammadiyah), stated that Soeharto’s leadership should be viewed as a whole, not in fragments.
“Muhammadiyah has studied his leadership as the second president. We assess his figure comprehensively. After our review, we found that since the independence revolution, he has made significant contributions to the nation,” he said.
Makroen added that Soeharto’s historical record reveals his important role from the independence struggle through the era of national development.
“History records that in 1946, Pak Harto helped suppress a leftist coup, led the March 1 General Offensive, and became a key figure in resolving national crises. His role was further recognized internationally when Indonesia achieved food self-sufficiency, acknowledged by the FAO,” he noted.
He reminded the nation to embody the Javanese philosophy mikul ndhuwur, mendhem njero — honoring one’s predecessors without being trapped by past mistakes.
“If, as a nation, we only look for past faults, we will never move forward. History is like a rearview mirror — we must glance at it for learning, but our main focus should remain forward,” Makroen emphasized.
According to him, a hero is defined by sacrifice and achievement that serves as an example for the nation.
“The willingness to sacrifice and the achievement of excellence are two essential measures of heroism. The younger generation must learn these values — to be brave enough to sacrifice and to achieve real results, not just talk,” he said.
Echoing his view, KH Arif Fahrudin, Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and a prominent Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure, said that honoring figures such as Soeharto and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) reflects respect for two leaders from different eras who shared the same spirit of service to the nation.
“Heroes are those who have made great contributions and willingly sacrificed for the nation. These two figures represent different contexts but the same national spirit. Pak Harto contributed from the independence revolution to the development era, while Gus Dur made great contributions through education, pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), and strengthening pluralism,” Arif explained.
He stressed that a great nation is one that remains grateful for the struggles of its predecessors.
“If the younger generation cannot appreciate the sacrifices of our heroes, they will never truly be grateful for the blessing of independence. This nation is where we live, breathe, and find hope,” he said.
According to Arif, honoring leaders like Soeharto and Gus Dur is a reflection of the nation’s maturity in looking toward the future without forgetting its history.
“Every era has its own leaders, and every leader belongs to a specific era. Our task now is to transmit their legacy of goodness to today’s and future generations,” he stated.
Both figures conveyed a strong message that a great nation is one that honors its leaders, upholds the values of sacrifice and service, and continues to ignite the spirit of heroism in the hearts of Indonesia’s young generation.