Doctor R. Suharto Officially Becomes A National Hero In Today's Memory, 7 November 2022

The portrait of R. Suharto who was appointed by President Jokowi as a national hero. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memori hari ini, tiga tahun yang lalu, 7 November 2022, Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) mengangkat dokter pribadi Soekarno yang juga tokoh kesehatan Indonesia, R. Suharto Sastrosoeyoso sebagai pahlawan nasional. Jokowi menganggap Suharto punya kontribusi besar bagi bangsa dan negara.

Previously, Suharto had a big role in the struggle for independence. He was not only loyal to accompany Bung Karno when it was important. He also acts to manage the independence fund (Fonds Kemerdekaan) to build the nation.

The struggle to liberate the Indonesian nation is not an easy matter. The fighters were ready to serve against colonialism. However, there are high prices paid. They must be ready to sacrifice everything, from life to property.

Doctor Suharto was like that. His life as a doctor in Batavia (Jakarta) is actually quite well established. He is in a state of lack of many things. However, he chose to serve and fight as Soekarno's personal doctor.

He was ready to take care of Bung Karno's health. He participated with Bung Karno when he visited the prayer, Vietnam in order to collect the promise of independence to Japan. His role was no less great when Bung Karno became Malaria on August 17, 1945.

Bung Karno's condition in the morning was not okay. The body was hot, not playing games. However, Suharto immediately paid attention to this condition. He gave medicines. This study allowed Bung Karno to proclaim independence in front of his house in East Pegangsaan 56.

Suharto was also known as chairman of the Independence Fonds. An agency tasked with raising funds for Indonesia to defend independence. The funds are fully used for the struggle to defend independence.

Some of them were used to build the National Bank of Indonesia (BNI). Suharto has also held several ministerial positions in the Old Order era. Suharto's contribution to the world of health is also not small. He became one of the figures who founded the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI).

The issuance is mostly to equip people or groups of regional envoys who want to return to their area, to carry out various tasks and so on. The Indonesian Independence Fund also provides the first capital for the Bank Indonesia Central Foundation, which in the future develops into BNI. The first capital I submitted was Rp. 340 thousand, of course Japanese money.

"The establishment of the Bank Indonesia Center is based on the Government's announcement dated October 9, 1945, with the aim of centralizing the leadership and uniting the goals (coordinating) in the economic field and capital circulation, as well as giving the public the opportunity to exchange foreign money for money in force in Indonesia," said R. Suharto in the book Historical Witness (1984).

Suharto's work as Bung Karno's personal doctor and health figure is unforgettable in historical memory. Jokowi's government was attracted by his service. As a result, Jokowi awarded Suharto the title of national hero on November 7, 2022.

The title was inaugurated through the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 96 TK Year 2022. The title embedding will be held at the Presidential Palace on November 10, 2022. The determination was greeted with joy considering the large contribution of R. Suharto.

"Following the construction of a sharia department store and the construction of the National Monument and the Istiqlal Mosque and the construction of the Jakarta Hospital as well as one of the founders of the establishment of IDI (Indonesian Doctors Association)," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD as quoted on the Indonesian CNN page, November 7, 2022.