Prominent Indonesian tycoon-turned-philanthropist Dato’ Sri Tahir has been awarded the Bintang Mahaputera Nararya medal, one of Indonesia’s highest civilian honors, for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the country and its citizens.

Tahir was among eight recipients granted medals by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a ceremony at the State Palace on Wednesday. The award was part of the annual celebrations to mark the country’s Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17.

The other recipients included the wife of the sultan of Yogyakarta and member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, former Judicial Commission deputy chairman Abbas Said and Abdul Haris Semendawai, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) chairman.

According to the 2009 Titles, Honors and Awards Law, Bintang Mahaputera medals are bestowed on individuals with distinguished service in various fields that contribute greatly to the state and the nation’ development, welfare and prosperity.

“I think this honor is not the end of the process, but rather a beginning because in my philosophy, an honor comes with greater responsibility,” Tahir told journalists after the award ceremony.

The founder of diversified conglomerate Mayapada Group is widely known as an active philanthropist, having been involved in many various social and public charities. He founded the Tahir Foundation through which he has disbursed millions of dollars for education, health and humanitarian causes.

Tahir, whose US$3.5 billion fortune saw him named the fourth richest man in Indonesia by Forbes magazine in March, has long called on his fellow tycoons to contribute more to the country’s development and prosperity. He has said that to give back is “a logical consequence” as the government supported businesspeople with facilities and infrastructure.

He encouraged other magnates to fulfill their pivotal role in contributing at least 10 percent of their wealth for the benefit of the Indonesian people. “If we receive profits, but we enjoy the results alone, that’s called selfishness,” he said.

“I am committed to donating 50 percent of my wealth for the people,” the son-in-law of property and banking mogul Mochtar Riady added.

In March, the Tahir Foundation donated $250 million to be disbursed within five years for public-empowerment programs in cooperation with Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University and Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-biggest Muslim organization. He donated more than $100 million to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014 to support efforts to combat major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, polio and malaria.

The 66-year-old tycoon also donated $14 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2016 through the foundation to support education and facilities for refugee children.

He stresses education and health as the two most important sectors that business players need to support, especially to help improve the future of the nation’s children and the quality of life of all the people.

“Thus I call on all business players, especially the wealthy ones, to return some of their profits by giving out scholarships, building more schools [...] and hospitals,” Tahir said, adding that the donations would ease the government’s burden.

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