The Moment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan Was Awarded The Title Of Four-Star Honorary General

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan together with Gus Dur, the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia who gave him the rank of General of Honor. (Special)

JAKARTA - Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was not a brilliant figure in the New Order era (Orba). His closeness to LB Moerdani became the estuary. Everything changed when Suharto and New Order stepped down. The Kapasitanya di Kopassus made President BJ Habibie attracted.

Luhut made the Singapore Ambassador (Ambassador). This role made Luhut promoted from major general to lieutenant general. Dewi Fortuna was then present again in the luhut life in the era of President Gus Dur. He was again promoted with the award of a four-star honorary general.

Suharto and New Order are not typical of the government who often hide their hatred for others. Whoever interferes with Suharto's thoughts, then the figure is ignored, even exiled.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has felt it. He did not immediately confront Suharto and the New Order. The problem arises because of his close relationship with the former TNI Commander, LB Moerdani.

A figure who is known to have the courage to throw criticism directly at Suharto and the Cendana Family. This condition made Luhut's career stuck. Even though he often gets praise from his superiors as the best officer in the Army (AD).

The netapa Luhut received ended when Suharto and New Order stepped down in May 1998. The new Indonesian number one, BJ Habibie, was attracted by Luhut's charisma and defetus in Kopassus. This narrative made Habibie want to place Luhut with a new assignment: the Singapore Ambassador.

Luhut did not immediately accept it. He thought he still had a dream to become the Army Chief of Staff (KASAD). However, Luhut's superior, Sintong Panjaitan, asked Luhut to accept the position of Ambassador to Singapore. Luhut inevitably agreed.

Habibie also admitted that he was happy. He immediately raised Luhut's rank from a two-star general, to a three-star general. Luhut was then placed as the Ambassador of Singapore. The result was brilliant. Luhut was able to make Habibie proud because the relationship between Indonesia and Singapore was getting closer.

Luhut was reported in various kinds to Suharto, so he became a card holder. Sintong said that Luhut until the rank of a three-star general had never served as commander in chief. Luhut revealed that I never experienced the position of Pangdam. In fact, according to Sintong when Luhut served as Commander of the Korem in Madiun, he received the title of the best Danrem throughout Indonesia.

The predicate was announced in the Territorial Meeting in Magelang. He has the ability to be very potential in thought and communicate with the international community. LB Moerdani, Try Sutrisno, Rudini, and Edi Sudradjat praised Luhut Pandjaitan as the best officers in the Army. But they can't do anything to Luhut in the ABRI environment," explained Hendro Subroto in the bookSintong Panjaitan: The Journey of a Soldier Para Command (2009).

Luhut's career in politics is increasing. Everything boils down because of his close relationship with Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). At first Luhut was indeed assigned to tackle Gus Dur as chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board in the New Order era. However, this effort was unsuccessful.

Instead of Luhut and Gus Dur being hostile, the two of them were surprisingly closer and more friendly. Sintong said that Gus Dur even dared to criticize Luhut, who incidentally was the Ambassador of Singapore. Luhut is considered Gus Durover qualified if he is only an Ambassador.

Luhut was also asked by Gus Dur to help him regulate Indonesia. All of this was because Gus Dur in a few months would be sworn in as the new President of Indonesia. As a result, Luhut was appointed by Gus Dur as Minister of Industry and Trade of Indonesia in August 2000.

The appointment made Gus Dur raise Luhut's rank from a three-star general to a four-star general. Gus Dur conferred Luhut, a four-star honorary general in November 2004. The promotion was given because Luhut's contribution was considered great for the nation and state.

"It's true, in the turmoil that occurred in the presidential election held by deliberation at the MPR, Gus Dur managed to beat Megawati. Gus Dur also fulfilled his promise, he called Luhut home to be appointed Minister of Trade and Industry in his cabinet.."

"Luhut was loyal to his leadership. That was what he did when Gus Dur was impeached by the MPR on July 23, 2001. Luhut also stopped and refused to join the new government. About this he once met and asked for your advice. I said: Ah... you are stupid. So the minister is in power. But his loyalty to Gus Dur made him reject it. He decided to become an entrepreneur. I said, You are rich first then. Later into the government, "explained Sintong Panjaitan in the book Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan: According to Us (2023).