Indonesia Indeed Needs Development, But That Doesn't Mean Suharto Must Be Given A Hero Title

President Suharto while attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) Summit at the Anthropology Museum of British Columbia University, Vancouver, Canada, November 25, 1997. (AFP/John Gibson)

JAKARTA Proposed title of hero for the Second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto caused a polemic. Even the votes in the DPR were divided regarding this proposal.

Suharto's name along with 39 other figures who were proposed to receive the title of hero by the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Council for Titles, Services, and Honors, Tuesday (21/10/2025).

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf said the proposed name Suharto, along with other proposed names, had met the administrative requirements. "Through research and assessment of Regencies/Cities, provinces and the Ministry of Social Affairs team," he said.

With the submission of these names, Suharto's determination as a national hero entered the final stage of the assessment by the council chaired by the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon.

Later, the results will be submitted to President Prabowo Subianto and he has the authority to decide whether Suharto is worthy or not to be a hero.

The news of the inclusion of Suharto's name in the final stage of the assessment raises pros and cons. This polemic is not only discussed among the public, but also a number of activists and observers.

Since 2010, Suharto's name has actually been repeatedly proposed as a national hero. However, the proposal was canceled due to MPR Decree Number XI of 1998 concerning the Implementation of a State that is Clean and Free from Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism.

In 2024, this proposal resurfaced, which was followed by the revocation of Suharto's name, which was stated in Article 4 of the MPR Decree Number XI of 1998 concerning the Implementation of a Clean and Free State from KKN.

In the DPR, the vote is divided. The PDI-P (PDIP) faction was among those who loudly refused, as voiced by Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR MY Esti Wijayati.

According to him, Suharto's proposal to become a hero must go through an in-depth study. The determination of the title of hero should not be carried out without referring to the provisions of Law Number 20 of 2009 concerning Titles, Service Signs, and Honors.

The law explains that the recipients of the title of hero must have extraordinary services for the nation and state without a record of violations of the law or disgraceful acts.

"Therefore, comprehensive historical research and fair judgment are needed so that the decision to give the title truly reflects the true value of heroism," said Esti.

On the other hand, Bambang Soesatyo from the Golkar Party faction considered Suharto as one of the nation's best sons who had great services for Indonesia.

One of his services, said the man who is familiarly called Bamsoet, is to bring Indonesia from a poor country to a developing country. In addition, Suharto also succeeded in making the economy stable after the 1960s crisis, suppressing inflation, and realizing food self-sufficiency in 1984.

Meanwhile, MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani assessed that the proposal for Suharto to be given the title of national hero does not need to be questioned. He said that the awarding of the title of hero was entirely handed over to President Prabowo.

Head of the Center for Pancasila Studies at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Agus Wahyudi said that the plan to give Suharto the title of hero was not just an administrative decision or historical award. According to him, this decision can also be considered a moral and epistemic statement about how this nation views his past.

"The assessment of this policy cannot be separated from two things, namely public morality and collective memory," he said.

In terms of public morality, the title of heroism is not just a matter of service, but also an ethical standard regarding public leadership that respects human rights, honesty, and accountability of power. In a democracy that is after reform, moral standards become the foundation of political legitimacy.

"If a person with a track record of human rights violations and state corruption is granted the title of hero, this nation risks blurring the boundary between oppressing power and a freedom of leadership," he said.

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) Dedi Kurnia Syah considers discussing the irrelevant heroic title to be carried out in today's modern era, when the nation needs more development, both infrastructure and humans.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has a big burden to support people's welfare, it's strange if they are actually busy with such ceremonial matters," said Dedi to VOI.

Regarding Suharto, who is included in the list of 40 names proposed by the Ministry of Social Affairs as a national hero, Dedi sees it from two sides. On the one hand, it is inappropriate for the people to null Suharto's hard work and services, but on the other hand it is also impossible to forget Suharto's leadership, which claimed many victims, including the issue of corruption, nepotism, and his authoritarianism.

This means, said Dedi, that the Ministry of Social Affairs should not look for faces by giving Suharto the title of hero, it is enough to remember Suharto as a national figure that is sufficient as proof that we are civilized and uphold the culture of respect.

"Indeed, if Suharto gets the title of hero, the Ministry of Social Affairs will hurt some of our nation who lived in the era of Suharto's leadership," he said.