Gus Dur Is Proposed To Be A National Hero Again In Today's Memory, October 18, 2017

The poster features the face of the former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories today, seven years ago, October 18, 2017, Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Khofifah Indar Parawansa received the proposal of the former President of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) as a National Hero.

The proposal will later be decided by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Previously, Gus Dur was known as a national figure who had achievements in the world. He is considered an icon of religious tolerance. He is also known as a brave figure. Gus Dur was able to think ahead of the times.

Indonesia is considered lucky to have a national figure like Gus Dur. Gus Dur's horn in defending the nation and state is second to none. He became a person who dared to oppose the government during the repressive era of the Suharto and New Order (Orba) government.

He brought Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) to remain in the corridor to defend the people. All kinds of government conflicts that harm the people, Gus Dur brought NU down the mountain to help. This sincerity made Gus Dur's name known as the bearer of change.

Ulam's beloved pinnacle arrives. Gus Dur also had the opportunity to lead as President of Indonesia from the 1999-2001 era. Gus Dur's leadership has indeed had a lot of controversy. However, not a few breakthroughs have been made.

Gus Dur is the opening of the presence of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) anti-corruption agency. Gus Dur also made ethnic Chinese people able to carry out worship and celebrate Chinese New Year in public.

Gus Dur also put forward religious tolerance. Gus Dur's other courage was none other than the first Indonesian President to apologize to the families of the victims of the 1965-1966 PKI sympathizers massacre.

His move was indeed one side of being considered revolutionary. The other side is shrouded in controversy. However, it does not reduce the view that Gus Dur is a true National Teacher.

Justru, the politics of power has made Gus Dur's greatness tested. Many of his policies are "revolutional" and his discourse is too bold. Gus Dur lives in the Chinese New Year, changing the name of Irian Jaya to Papua. "

Disbanding the Department of Social Affairs, Department of Information, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, exploring the possibility of political cooperation with Israel, and apologizing to former Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) as a political victim. Some were welcomed, some left controversy and rejection," said M. Alfin Alfian in the book Damai with Gus Dur (2010).

All Indonesians agree that Gus Dur is a great figure in the Indonesian nation. This narrative made Gus Dur repeatedly nominated as a National Hero since 2011. However, Gus Dur's candidacy often bounced because the momentum was not right.

However, the Central Title Research Team (TP2GP) again proposed Gus Dur's name to the Minister of Social Affairs, Khofifah Indar Parawansa. Khofifah, who incidentally sympathizers of the Gus Dur camp's National Awakening Party (PKB), supported Gus Dur's proposal along with other names on October 18, 2017.

Khofifah here only accepts proposals. The case of who will be decided as the winner of the National Hero title is purely President Jokowi's choice. Khofifah could not interfere with or cancel the decision. Even though Gus Dur again failed to become a National Hero in 2017.

"The title of hero will determine President Jokowi. Meanwhile, the awarding will be carried out as a series of Heroes' Day 10 November."

"Those who hold the title of national heroes are not only meritorious on the battlefield but also in other fields whose echoes and benefits are felt nationally. Today I have received a report on the results of the TP2GP discussion on the proposals of the nine national heroes," said Khofifah as quoted on the Liputan6.com page, October 18, 2017.