PKS puts Soeharto on ads as 'teacher of the nation'

Erwida Maulia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 11/11/2008 10:59 AM  |  National

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), whose controversial TV ads on the commemoration of National Heroes Day featured a picture of the late former president Soeharto, insists he deserves recognition as the "teacher of the nation".

In its most recent TV ads, aired in conjunction with Heroes Day commemorations on Nov. 10, the PKS showed photographs of prominent national figures dubbed "teachers of the nation and heroes", including Soeharto.

Other featured figures were Indonesia's first president Sukarno, Nahdlatul Ulama founder Hasyim Asyari, Muhammadiyah founder Ahmad Dahlan, former prime minister Mohammad Natsir, former vice president Muhammad Hatta, former Army general Sudirman, and former freedom fighter Sutomo, popularly known as Bung Tomo.

The ads closed with a voice saying, "Thank you, teachers of the nation, thank you heroes, we will go on with the PKS."

While all the other figures have been named national heroes, the government has yet to respond to a Golkar Party proposal for the same honor for Soeharto.

The ads sparked immediate criticism.

"Granting (Soeharto) hero status is the government's prerogative, but dubbing him a teacher of the nation can be done by all who have felt his contributions (to the nation)," PKS deputy secretary-general Fachri Hamzah told The Jakarta Post here Monday.

"He might have made a lot of mistakes, but everyone has a good and bad side. We can't deny his major contributions to the development of the nation... in the first 10 or even 20 years of his presidency."

Fachri argued even Sukarno made mistakes, including declaring himself lifelong president, and so had other national heroes.

"But a big nation is one that can appreciate the dedication of those contributing a lot to its development. We shall not repeat his mistakes, but we can follow the good things he's done."

Fachri slammed criticism of the PKS as an "opportunistic" party for using Soeharto's picture in the ads. Critics accuse the Islamic-based party of trying to woo Soeharto's supporters.

"What's wrong with our idea of anti-political wings? Why should it be confronted? Now whoever wants to negate the contributions of Pak Harto or Bung Karno will have to face the PKS," he said.

Earlier this year, Golkar pushed forward proposals for Soeharto to be named a hero because of his achievements.

University of Indonesia historian Asvi Marwan Adam played down Fachri's statements, saying none of Indonesia's heroes had committed human rights abuses that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, as Soeharto allegedly did.

Asvi added that although some of the heroes, such as Sukarno, led extravagant lifestyles while still alive, none had enriched themselves and their families using state money as Soeharto did -- again allegedly.

"Soeharto may have been Indonesia's biggest developer, which in evident in the country's infrastructure development during 30 years of his presidency," Asvi said, "but he was also the biggest destroyer. Large-scale deforestation occurred when he led the country, and so did the swelling of foreign debt."

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Indra (not verified) — Tue, 11/18/2008 - 6:12pm

Simply put, the benefits of Suharto's rule are not equally dispersed and nor were they by all means universally felt by all Indonesians. I agree with the comments below saying there are ups and downs of his rules.

On the positive side, he opted for , and delivered to a large extent, stability and economic growth, something that Sukarno clearly failed to deliver, especially during the waning days of his presidency. We all remember how Sukarno played politics with the left and the right, focusing the nation's resources on breaking away from an imagined western imperialism at the cost of stunted economic growth, and ultimately the resulting attempted communist coup.

Putting Suharto's rise to power in the context of South East Asia's political development at that time, we all saw what became of weak regimes. Norodom Sihanouk in Cambodia, Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam, and decades of political unrest in Thailand. The rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia is an interesting comparison of what could have become of Indonesia had the Suharto regime not exercised its iron fist policy.

However, could we have had a guaranteed everlasting democracy had Suharto not ascended to power? I doubt this very much. Personally, in running a country bigger and much more diverse than the rest of South East Asia combined, you do need a strong central government that can impose effective authority. And let's look at Malaysia and Singapore, arguably two most successful economies in SE Asia. Did they not have politically repressive governments?

On the other hand, we inherited from him an absolute bureaucratic mess, rife with nepotism, cronyism, a bureaucracy where connections speak louder than credentials. Chances are that if you are from Jakarta, close to the ruling family, your life would now be very prosperous. Adding to that, economic growth had largely been centered in the central.

Yes Suharto may not be democratic, and yes he did govern without impunity. However, let's not forget that democratically accountable governments is a means to an end, and that end is prosperity, however way prosperity may be attributed to. I agree that Suharto has done so much for this nation. If at all, he delivered stability and only through stability can growth and prosperity be achieved. This nation owes much to him. I only hope that politics and irresponsible media do not erode from our minds what he has done for this Nation.

Ronny hastuya (not verified) — Tue, 11/18/2008 - 9:45am

Now I know which political party that I will not choose...it's PKS.

Paul (not verified) — Tue, 11/18/2008 - 2:50am

There are two key facts about President Soeharto that need to be borne in mind. One is that like all long-lasting leaders everywhere, his place in history needs to be seen as a balance sheet -- that is, there are pluses and minuses. It is true that there were important problems with the way that Soeharto governed Indonesia. But it is also true that for many years, there was peace, stability and much progress while he was leader. After allowing for his faults, he must be judged a great Indonesian who made an enormous contribution to his nation.

The second fact is that for many years, nearly all Indonesians at senior levels of public life in Indonesia were glad to be close to President Soeharto. As one former Indonesian minister (now, sadly, almarhum) said to me some years ago, "If Soeharto did wrong, then we all did wrong. We were happy enough to be associated with him for many years." Many current leaders of Indonesian society were close to Soeharto for a long time.

Fia (not verified) — Wed, 11/12/2008 - 9:34am

It's true that Soeharto had enriched his family using state's property, and whatever the contribution he made to our country, it's not the right thing to do.. It's a totally different thing for giving reward to presidential family and having superbly-luxurious houses around the globe as his family issued to have..
Nevertheless, it's also wrong to deny his contribution to our great country, remember when we're at the elementary school and we can buy Kids Meal at McDonald's with our pocket money? yeah, Soeharto gave that stability to us.. fake stability as it turns out, but it's great to hear international news and heard our country as "Tiger from ASEAN"

Zool (not verified) — Wed, 11/12/2008 - 1:24am

Indonesia could have been much better if not because of Suharto.
He topped the list of ' the world's most corrupted politician',
a Hero or a ZEro?

David K:
"Now corruption is as blatant or more, but the surety that things get done is near extinct. Bpk. Suharto and family may or may not have enriched themselves from state funds, but do they not deserve thier rewards? Do professors, or historians teach for free? Do doctors, lawyers, engineers do things for the kindness of thier own heart? I think not, but if there are those that do, then good for them."

David, you are giving a very bad example. Even the professionals in poor neighbouring country like Cambodia and Myanmar do get paid, their kids do have internet as well and enjoying modern life. Indonesia is blessed with rich resources, yet she is doing badly, well, slightly better than Myanmar maybe.

Jakarta, as the capital city of Indonesia, can't even has a proper sanitation. Clean water? If i'm not mistaken, the source of water is from Bogor, and it is NOT clean. Comparing your country with Singapore or even Malaysia is just a shame.

Suharto? ZERO.

Tanto (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:29pm

PKS ran out of creative ideas. Should learn from OBAMA's campaign !!!

BenZ (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 6:53pm

I think it's obvious why we don't want to name him a hero. Heroes are models for the younger generation to exemplify, and I don't think that this one of most corrupt men ever alive should be a model for anyone.

Okay, no court has confirmed that he was corrupt, but it is everybody's secret that he had indeed done all those fraud practices, that he had made them somewhat parts of many Indonesians' culture.

I agree he had indeed done a lot of things for the nation, but they're obviously not enough to make him a hero, with such bad reputation.
Naming him a hero or teacher of the nation is like conveying messages to the younger generation (perhaps the older, too?) that it's ok to be corrupt as long as you do something for the nation.
Gimme a break!

David K. (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 3:05pm

Why is it hard to admit that it was much better during Soeharto's time. Lower Unemployement rate, burgeoning economy, Higher Education Rate, lower crime rate, strong military and there was nationalistic pride and also respect from neighboring countries. Every subsequent president has eroded all those values and selling pieces of Indonesia to the highest bidder.

Sure there was blatent corruption during the time under Bpk. Suharto, but at least things got done. People got fed, houses got built, children got educations, roads got built, projects were completed for the better of the country and we didn't have hardline Muslims doing what they feel like in the name of Allah.

In exchange for developing the country, he had to exploit the national resources of this country. Did you expect us to create and grow our country based on the welfare of the US, Europe, Communist Russia, China, and any other super power that wished to exploit us inexchange for development funds, or giving us money cause they feel sorry for us. Yes there was large scale deforestation, but can i point out that United States, Europe and every other 1st world country were once covered in Trees, but due to thier "economic development" they are now deforested. The same concept of Mr. Asvi of Bpk. Suharto being the cause of large scale deforestation can be layed at the feet of individuals such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other great political figures in western history. (at this time I can't remember them I apologize).

Now corruption is as blatant or more, but the surety that things get done is near extinct. Bpk. Suharto and family may or may not have enriched themselves from state funds, but do they not deserve thier rewards? Do professors, or historians teach for free? Do doctors, lawyers, engineers do things for the kindness of thier own heart? I think not, but if there are those that do, then good for them.

Yes, Soeharto has many sins against him, but his accomplishements for this country are also many, so his accomplishments should be praised, he is a hero, he had to do what he did in order to give all of us the opportunity to complain about him now.

If individuals hate the past that built who we are now, then they should stop using thier computers, stop using electricity, stop using clean water, stop wearing modern clothing created through mass production, stop using paper, pens, pencils, eating in restaurants, and stop enjoying all the modern comforts we enjoy and take for granted today.

Miles, Jakarta (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 1:56pm

Soeharto was not a hero. However - and I can't believe I'm writing this, but it's true - I'm forced to admit that life under Soeharto was in some ways much better than it is now.

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