President Prabowo Confers National Hero Title to Ten National Figures

President Prabowo Subianto bestows National Hero title to ten national figures from various regions in a ceremony held at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (11/10). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto conferred National Hero title to ten national figures from various regions in a stately ceremony held the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (11/10). The title conferment ceremony is a part of the agenda to commemorate the 2025 National Heroes Day.

The National Hero title conferment is stipulated in Decree of President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 116/TK/2025 dated November 6, 2025, and serves as state recognition of national figures for their outstanding services in achieving, fighting for, maintaining, and contributing to the nation independence, as well as realizing the unity of the Indonesian nation and the unitary of the Republic of Indonesia.

During the ceremony, President Prabowo officially bestowed National Hero title to ten national figures, namely:

1. The late K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid, a figure from East Java province, a hero in political struggle and Islamic education. K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid, or well-known as Gus Dur, is a national figure who dedicated himself in fighting for humanity, democracy, and pluralism in Indonesia;
2. The late Grand General of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), H. M. Soeharto, a figure from Central Java province, a hero in the struggle for independence. The second President of the Republic of Indonesia is known as the Father of Development due to his five-year long-term development planning (REPELITA) programs that made Indonesia achieved significant development, including in rice self-sufficiency, population control, and poverty eradication that gained international and the UN recognition.
3. The late Marsinah, a figure from East Java province, a hero in struggle for social and humanity. Marsinah, with her ordinary backgrounds, is a symbol of moral bravery and a struggle for human rights.
4. The late Prof. Dr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, a figure from West Java province, a hero in law and political struggle. He is well-recognized for his idea of island country concept that was used by Djuanda Kartawidjaya in Djuanda Declaration in 1953;
5. The late Hajjah Rahmah El Yunusiyyah, a figure from West Sumatra province, a hero in Islamic education struggle. She was an ulema, educator, and fighter for Indonesia’s independence, who dedicated herself significantly in initiating Islamic women education in Indonesia and Southeast Asia;
6. The late General of TNI (Ret.) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, a figure from Central Java province, a hero in armed struggle. Sarwo Edhie’s military struggle was started when he served as a company commander in People’s Security Army (TKR), during the period of Independence War (1945-1949). Sarwo Edhie led his army in many battles;
7. The late Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin, a figure from West Nusa Tenggara province, a hero in struggle for education and diplomacy. His legacy includes Bima Palace, religious and public schools, great mosques, Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin airport, Nurul Mubin book, and various important infrastructures;
8. The late Syaikhona Muhammad Kholil, a figure from East Java province, a hero in struggle for Islamic education. His idea on strengthening Islamic education based on Islamic boarding school, and the idea of Hubbul Wathan Minal Iman (to love the country is part of faith) as an ideological foundation that generated the struggle of Islamic students in fighting colonialism physically and culturally;
9. The late Tuan Rondahaim Saragih, a figure from North Sumatra province, a hero in armed struggle, who is well-known as the Batak He led the Great Army in Simalungun regency that tenaciously fought the Dutch colonialism by focusing on succeeding in maintaining independence; and
10. The late Zainal Abidin Syah, a figure from North Maluku province, a hero in political struggle and diplomacy. He had an important role in maintaining the sovereignty of eastern Indonesia region, especially West Papua, so it stays as part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

In such a touching and proud moment, the heirs attended the ceremony representing the figures to receive the title and medal of honor from President Prabowo Subianto. The Head of State presented the certificate and state medal of honor to the heirs respectively as a form of recognition for the great contributions given by the heroes to the nation and the country. (AW/MMB) (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)