Jakarta — As Indonesia prepares to commemorate Heroes’ Day, a wave of support is growing for the proposal to grant the title of National Hero to the country’s second president, Soeharto.
Lawmakers, community organizations, traditional leaders, and representatives of grassroots economic groups all agree that Soeharto’s major contributions to nation-building deserve to be remembered and honored by the state.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Rubber and Latex Entrepreneurs Association (Apkarindo), Irfan Ahmad Fauzi, emphasized that Soeharto was a key figure in improving people’s welfare, particularly that of farmers.
“Millions of farming families gained access to superior seeds, efficient tapping technology, production roads, and market access. Many regions such as Jambi, Musi Banyuasin, and West Kalimantan developed thanks to Soeharto’s pro-people policies,” he said.
Similar support also came from the parliament. Member of the House of Representatives Nurul Arifin described Soeharto as a figure who played a major role in maintaining national stability and laying the foundations for economic development.
“He led Indonesia into an era of progress with a solid foundation for growth,” Nurul stated.
From the religious community, the Central Executive Board of Persatuan Islam (PP Persis) also voiced its support. The Head of Political and Public Policy Division of PP Persis, Muslim Mufti, said that Soeharto was not only a development leader but also a freedom fighter.
“He actively fought to defend Indonesia’s sovereignty against Dutch forces. Throughout his life, Soeharto’s dedication was always for the sake of the nation and the state,” he affirmed.
Among volunteer groups, M. Damar, Chairman of Relawan Exponen 08, described Soeharto as a leader who worked tirelessly for the people.
“Pak Harto was not just a leader but a hard worker for his people. During his era, Indonesia achieved food self-sufficiency, the economy grew, and the people lived in peace,” he said.
In a similar tone, Paulus Sinambela, Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Angkatan Muda Sisingamangaraja XII (AMS XII), recalled Soeharto’s administration as a period of stability and productivity.
“The economy, politics, culture, and development all ran smoothly. There was no unrest—everything was calm and orderly,” he explained.
Meanwhile, from the political party circle, Firman Soebagyo, Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party Faction at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), emphasized that this recognition should not be viewed as a political issue but as a form of respect for a national figure’s great contributions.
“Soeharto deserves to be granted the title of National Hero. This is about our honesty in reading history and honoring someone who helped lift Indonesia forward,” Firman asserted.
This series of expressions of support shows that the spirit of honoring the nation’s leaders remains alive among the people. In the spirit of this year’s Heroes’ Day, Soeharto’s name once again emerges as a symbol of steadfastness, hard work, and devotion to Indonesia.
