Jakarta – The plan to grant the title of National Hero to Indonesia’s 2nd President, Soeharto, has been confirmed to follow the appropriate procedural mechanisms and existing regulations. The public, therefore, need not worry and is encouraged to respond wisely to the issue.
This was conveyed by Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
Prasetyo urged the public to maintain prudence and objectivity in addressing the ongoing debate over the proposed honor for former President Soeharto. He assured that the entire process of conferring the title had gone through official and legal procedures.
“Regarding the National Hero title, of course, it goes through all the established procedures. The existence of differing opinions—some agree, some don’t—is part of public aspiration,” said Prasetyo Hadi.
According to him, differing opinions are a natural part of democracy. However, he called on the public to focus on the positive legacies of national leaders, including their contributions during their service to the country.
A similar view was expressed by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, who stated that the late President Soeharto had met all the requirements to be awarded the National Hero title, which is expected to be officially announced on National Heroes Day, November 10, 2025.
“Our team at the Council for Titles, Decorations, and Honors (GTK) has conducted thorough research, discussions, and assessments regarding this matter. All candidates being proposed have fulfilled the necessary requirements—none failed to meet the criteria,” said Fadli, who also serves as Chairman of the GTK Council.
He explained that the evaluation process was not only conducted by the Ministerial-level Research and Assessment Team (GTK) but also involved several administrative layers, including regency and municipal governments, provincial governments, and the Central Research and Assessment Team (TP2GP).
“So, from the bottom up, all levels have verified that the requirements are met—there’s no issue. Moreover, the proposal also originated from the public,” he explained.
Fadli further highlighted that one of the strongest reasons behind Soeharto’s nomination is his pivotal role in the General Offensive of March 1, 1949, which became a landmark event in Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
“At that time, the Dutch claimed that the Republic of Indonesia had ceased to exist — its leaders were captured, its territories occupied, and its people subdued. Then suddenly, this offensive took place,” he said.
“One of the most significant operations was the General Offensive of March 1, 1949, in which Soeharto, as the battle commander, played a key role in defending Indonesia’s independence,” he added.
In addition to that historic battle, Fadli also noted Soeharto’s contributions in the West Irian Liberation Operation and several other military missions that were crucial in preserving Indonesia’s sovereignty.
“There are detailed records of these operations, which I can provide later if needed,” he concluded.