Aiptu Supardi, Owner Of A Material Shop Often Donates Building Materials To Residents Who Can't Afford To Clean Up Family Graves

Aiptu Supardi, Member of the Sattahti Sragen Police/Photo: SPC

SRAGEN - Member of Sattahti Sragen Police, Aiptu Supardi, has become a viral figure on Tiktok. Not because he caught criminals, but because he is a widely known figure who often provides building material assistance to poor people whose family members have died.

This action that has been carried out by Aiptu Supardi since 2015 has in fact sparked Yudha, a neighborhood unit head in Guworejo Village, Karangmalang, Sragen, Central Java, to propose him as a candidate for the 2023 Hoegeng Awards.

According to Supardi, his initial action in providing construction materials for funerals for residents was carried out when he started to open a material store business with his wife in 2015.

"In the past, there were residents who asked for help with building materials to plaster their family's graves, then I helped for free. Then the news spread so that many residents also asked for help. I provided everything for free. I happen to have stock in my shop every day. Now I handle residents from 6 villages," said Supardi, Thursday, 23 February.

Even though it was done sincerely, Supardi revealed that the hardest time for him was from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 2022.

"During the time of COVID, the number of residents who died was up to 8-10 people per day. I even prayed to Allah that I would be given the strength to help residents. Moreover, there were building materials that were difficult to find at that time, namely bricks. I happened to have no stock in my store," said the father of 4 children.

Yudha said that he took the initiative to propose Supardi as a candidate for receiving the Hoegeng Award because he saw the figure of a member of the Sragen Police as a police officer with a high social spirit.

"So yesterday when there was a neighborhood unit visit, for our residents, if someone died, for building materials when they wanted to bury them, they would go straight to the shop to ask for free. So indeed his role was sincere to help residents in the Guwurejo village area, but outside the region also helps," said Yudha.

Yudha also mentioned that the building materials were even delivered to the cemetery. Various building materials, ranging from cement, bricks, sand, and others as needed.

"He has had this program for a long time. I am also a user of one of the benefits of Mr. Supardi's program. Yesterday I contacted him because someone had died, Alhamdulillah, he was immediately sent assistance. So, I have emphasized to my residents several times that if it is for Mr. Supardi's program assistance, can go straight to his place, free of charge," he said.

Not only helping residents who died, but Aiptu Supardi is also said to have often contributed building materials from his shop to improve infrastructure. He is also said to be active in activities in the community, such as community service.

"He participated in one of them, helping in infrastructure development programs, for example, road construction, and security posts. Everything is free, and he also dares to contribute the most. He plays a role and participates in activities in his local neighborhood," he explained.

Deputy Chairman of Commission C DPRD Central Java, Sriyanto Saputro, also proposed the name Aiptu Supardi as the recipient of the 2023 Hoegeng Awards. Sriyanto started to know Aiptu Supardi in 2022 when he toured his electoral district. He was also amazed by the kindness that Aiptu Supardi had done, because according to him it was done selflessly.

"The tradition there is that people who die are immediately buried. So every time someone dies, every time they are notified they will be sent free of charge. But the unique thing is that they don't have any interest, that's why they are respected for their kindness," said Sriyanto when contacted.

Sriyanto also said that the figure of Aiptu Supardi was known to be active in the community by frequently participating in mutual cooperation activities. Apart from funerals, Aiptu Supardi is also said to often provide assistance with building materials to build residents' infrastructure.

"He has a high social spirit, in his village, there is a kind of meeting hall that he sponsors, including the mosque. He is diligent in social activities, mutual cooperation. I got these stories from people, even from the village head," he explained.