Legacy of Development and Strong Economic Foundation, Soeharto Deserves the Title of National Hero

Jakarta – Support for the awarding of the title of National Hero to the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, HM Soeharto, continues to grow from various circles. A number of figures believe that Soeharto was not merely a leader who ruled for three decades, but also a figure who successfully laid a solid foundation for national economic development and the welfare of the people.

Nurul Arifin, a member of the House of Representatives from the Golkar Party faction, expressed his support for the government’s decision to consider awarding Soeharto the title of National Hero. He considered Soeharto’s significant contributions to maintaining national stability and driving economic development to be an important milestone for the progress of modern Indonesia.
“He played a significant role in maintaining national stability and laying the foundation for economic development that led Indonesia into an era of progress,” said Nurul Arifin.

Nurul added that Soeharto’s 31-year leadership was a crucial period in the nation’s history. Under his direction, Indonesia achieved rice self-sufficiency, built strategic infrastructure, and ushered in an era of development that transformed the face of the national economy.

Support also came from the General Chairman of the Indonesian Smallholder Rubber Farmers Association (Apkarindo), Irfan Ahmad Fauzi, who believed that Suharto had laid the foundation for the people’s economy through pro-farmer policies, particularly in the plantation sector.
“Indonesia was listed as one of the world’s largest natural rubber producers at that time and remains the second-largest producer globally after Thailand. More than 80 percent of national production comes from smallholder farmers,” he said.

Irfan explained that programs such as the Smallholder Plantation Rejuvenation Program (PRPTE) and the People’s Nucleus Plantation Program (PIR) had successfully transformed the rural economy. “Millions of farming families gained access to superior seeds, low-cost tapping technology, production roads, and market access. Many regions, such as Jambi, Musi Banyuasin, and West Kalimantan, developed thanks to Suharto’s pro-people policies,” he added.

Apkarindo’s Daily Chairman, Arif Susanto, considered President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to consider the title a historic one. “President Suharto was the father of Indonesian rubber development. Apkarindo will stand firmly in support of President Prabowo in upholding the state’s recognition of this significant contribution,” he said.

This support confirms that Suharto’s development legacy is still felt today—a clear demonstration that the economic foundation he built has been a crucial foundation for Indonesia’s progress.