Megawati's Story Called The Brave Lady in Today's Memory, January 23, 2019

JAKARTA - Remembering today, seven years ago, January 23, 2019, the former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, recounted the beginning of the nickname The Brave lady to Megawati Soekarnoputri. The nickname was revealed because of Megawati's courage to visit the United States (US) in a precarious state after the 911 Tragedy.

Previously, the whole world was shocked by the act of terrorism in the US on September 11, 2001. The terror came in the form of two hijacked planes that were deliberately crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center (WTC), New York, USA.

The most deadly act of terrorism ever occurred in the US. The action is widely remembered as the September 11, 2001 attack. Many people then know it as the 911 Tragedy. The terrorist attack began with two planes hijacked by terrorists.

The goal of the hijacking was to hit the WTC twin towers in New York. As a result, victims fell. The attack killed nearly three thousand people. All because not long after the attack, the twin towers collapsed.

New York City also changed dramatically. Hospitals are full of victims. The US government itself is in a state of confusion looking for the mastermind of the act of terrorism. Even though the terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, is considered responsible for the 911 Tragedy.

The impact of Islamophobia is everywhere. The terrorist group in religious robes makes many countries with a majority of Muslims hated. Moreover, those who are and live in Uncle Sam's country. Their security is not guaranteed.

US citizens are said to be too emotional to Muslims in the wake of the 911 tragedy. However, this does not mean that many Muslim countries are afraid of the US. Indonesia, for example. Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri even dared to take a risk to the US which was in a precarious state on September 19, 2001.

Indonesia then became the first Muslim majority country to the US after the 911 Tragedy. Megawati and Bush then committed to working together against terrorism.

"Megawati is the president of the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Therefore, for George W. Bush, Megawati's acceptance at the White House will certainly be very useful to convince the world that, by proclaiming a war against terrorism in all its forms, America does not have enmity against Islamic countries. "

"George W. Bush can use his meeting with Megawati to cry out that the Islamic community, whether in the Middle East, Asia, or in America itself, does not need to worry about the determination of the superpower he leads to pursue and destroy terrorists to the ends of the world. any," said Rizal Mallarangeng in the book From Heaven (2008).

Megawati's courage to the US at a critical time is remembered by many people. Megawati, while proving that Islamophobia will not flourish in the US. The image of courage does not disappear when Megawati is no longer the number one person in Indonesia.

Former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, has always been impressed by Megawati's past moves. He then recounted his story of being the first to give the nickname The Brave Lady to Megawati Soekarnoputri on January 23, 2019. Or on the day Megawati turned 72 years old.

He gave the nickname because Megawati dared to come to the US. In fact, the condition of the US at that time was quite intimidating for Muslims because Islamophobia was getting stronger. Megawati's life could be threatened. However, Megawati was not afraid.

Later, the nickname given by Purnomo was then popular among the ranks of the Gotong Royong cabinet during Megawati's era. A sign that the nickname given by Purnomo was endorsed by many parties.

As a result, the nickname The Brave Lady was immortalized in a book with the same title as a birthday gift for Megawati's 72nd birthday. The book contains writings from the Gotong Royong cabinet which contains impressions during Megawati's tenure as President of Indonesia in the 2001-2004 era.

"I didn't expect this to be the title of Ibu's book. The Brave Lady, the maker of decisions. A brave mother, who dares to make decisions under any circumstances. I repeat (then) 'This mother in America is not right'. But, Ibu made the decision 'I'm leaving'. The first brave lady I recorded," said Purnomo as quoted by the Kompas.com page, January 23, 2019.