Jakarta — Support for conferring the title of National Hero upon Indonesia’s 2nd President, Soeharto, continues to grow across various segments of society and among national figures. Many believe that Soeharto deserves this recognition for his significant contributions in maintaining national stability, developing the economy, and laying the foundations for progress that are still felt today.
Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Ahmad Muzani, emphasized that there are no obstacles preventing the government from granting this honorary title to Soeharto. He noted that the MPR has sent an official letter to the President as a form of institutional and moral support.
“The MPR has written a letter stating that we leave it to the President — in this case, the government — to grant an award to former President Soeharto. He has completed all legal processes, both criminal and civil,” said Muzani.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi urged the public to respond wisely to the ongoing debate. He assured that all stages and mechanisms for awarding the National Hero title have followed proper procedures.
“The public is expected to be wise in responding to differing opinions. The process of conferring the title has followed all applicable regulations,” Prasetyo stated.
Support has also come from academia and religious figures. Chairman of the Fatwa Commission at the University of Indonesia, Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh, viewed the recognition of Soeharto as an expression of religious and national ethics.
“Honoring a deceased leader is not merely a political matter, but a reflection of religious and national values — a way to respect the virtues and contributions they left behind,” Asrorun explained.
Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Eddy Soeparno, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Soeharto’s undeniable role in restoring and improving Indonesia’s economy.
“Soeharto succeeded in revitalizing Indonesia’s economy and achieving significant growth, particularly after the difficult post-independence period,” he stated.
Similarly, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission I, Dave Laksono, emphasized that Soeharto’s success in maintaining macroeconomic stability forms a strong basis for awarding him the title.
“Throughout his 32-year leadership, Soeharto maintained both economic and political stability — a remarkable achievement in our nation’s history,” said Dave.
Academic support also came from Yusup Rahman Hakim, researcher and Deputy Director of the Intelligence and National Security Studies (INSS) institute.
“Soeharto’s policies had a profound impact on strengthening state capacity, particularly in basic education, public administration, and food security. If heroism is measured by impact, then Soeharto certainly deserves that title,” he remarked.
The younger generation has also voiced their support. Muhammad Yunus, Chairman of North Sumatra Youth and Deputy Chairman of Pemuda Pancasila, described Soeharto as a builder who laid the foundations for national progress.
“For more than three decades, Soeharto led Indonesia through challenging times and guided the nation toward stability. He established the foundations of national development — from achieving food self-sufficiency and constructing thousands of schools and hospitals, to sustaining economic growth above 7 percent for two decades,” said Yunus.
He further noted that Soeharto’s firm stance following the G30S/PKI incident reflected his strong commitment to protecting the nation’s ideology.
“He took decisive steps to save the country from the threat of communism — a true act of patriotism,” Yunus concluded.
These diverse perspectives reflect that honoring Soeharto is not merely about revisiting the past but represents the nation’s maturity in acknowledging the contributions of its leaders. Granting Soeharto the title of National Hero is seen as a symbol of historical reconciliation and a reaffirmation of national spirit that honors his enduring contributions to Indonesia. (*)