Jakarta — The Chairman of the Nagan Raya Branch Leadership Council (MPC) of Pemuda Pancasila, Ari Saputra, S.H., M.H., has expressed full support for the government’s plan to grant the title of National Hero to Indonesia’s second President, General (Ret.) Soeharto, in conjunction with the National Heroes Day commemoration on November 10, 2025.
In a statement delivered at his residence on Wednesday (Nov 8, 2025), Ari emphasized that Soeharto had made tremendous contributions to the nation in the fields of economy, politics, and defense.
“He made great contributions to this nation — from defeating the G30S/PKI movement, achieving food and energy sovereignty, curbing inflation, to positioning Indonesia as a major economic power in Asia during his era,” said Ari Saputra.
Ari added that Soeharto’s leadership laid the essential foundation for Indonesia’s modern economic progress. He highlighted several key policies, including the food self-sufficiency program, the development of basic industries, improvements in education and healthcare infrastructure, and the implementation of the Five-Year Development Plan (Repelita) system.
“We witnessed firsthand the rapid progress across various sectors during that period. It was part of Indonesia’s economic resurgence, which cannot be separated from President Soeharto’s leadership,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Yusup Rahman Hakim, researcher and Deputy Director of the Intelligence and National Security Studies (INSS) in Jakarta, stated that Soeharto’s contributions should be evaluated based on the long-term impact of his public policies and development programs, rather than fragmented political perceptions.
According to Yusup, several policies under Soeharto’s administration had a profound impact on strengthening the state’s institutional capacity, particularly in the areas of basic education, administrative development, and food security.
“The massive school-building program in the early 1970s, the reformulation of national development planning structures, and the agricultural modernization efforts in the 1980s were all part of a nation-building process that laid the social and economic foundations of Indonesia today,” Yusup explained.