Daftarsbmptn.com – Each generation of the Indonesian nation-state is called to shoulder the responsibilities of its time. While the current generation of Indonesians is encouraged to actively combat corruption amidst the challenge of adapting quickly to the super-intelligent society of Society 5.0, the challenges faced by previous generations are certainly different. When the world was ravaged by ideological conflict throughout the 1960s, Suharto and his fellow Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers were at the forefront, safeguarding and ensuring the upholding of Pancasila as the foundation of the state and the ideology of the Indonesian nation.
To this day, countless accounts and stories remain about the struggles of previous generations to uphold Pancasila during that decade, which the current generation can certainly learn from. Historical records also demonstrate that successfully strengthening Pancasila as the nation’s ideology did not automatically bring prosperity to the people. What remained was uncertainty and a devastated economy.
To achieve this certainty, on March 12, 1967, all elements of the nation, represented by the Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly (MPRS), agreed to appoint General Suharto as acting president through MPRS Decree Number XXIII/MPRS/1967. During that decade, the MPRS held the status of the highest state institution. Supported by a number of skilled technocrats and accomplished diplomats, Suharto focused on efforts to establish public order in order to strengthen unity as the primary capital for developing the nation’s economy.
This certainty regarding national leadership at that time was then reinforced through MPRS Decree Number XLIV/MPRS/1968 on March 27, 1968. This MPRS Decree appointed Suharto as President of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to prioritizing national stability and public order, Suharto also made the country’s economic development a top priority. Together with technocrats and economists, Suharto then designed a national development concept and strategy.
Suharto’s ideas and initiatives regarding national development were discussed and developed by a number of technocrats, including Widjojo Nitisastro, Emil Salim, Ali Wardhana, Frans Seda, J.B. Sumarlin, Saleh Afiff, Subroto, and Mohammad Sadli. From this long and ongoing process, the concept and strategy for national development, known as Repelita, or the Five-Year Development Plan, were born. Repelita encompassed the Development Trilogy, encompassing stability, growth, and equity. Repelita focused on agricultural development, infrastructure development, and public housing (popularly known as Perumnas).
Banks were encouraged to enter villages to provide easy access for farmers and rural communities. From this initiative, a number of populist initiatives emerged and were realized that directly addressed the interests of farming communities. The community then became familiar with the Village Unit Cooperative (KUD), the Kupedes Program (Rural General Credit), the Farmer’s Business Credit (KUT) which began in 1985, and the Rural Savings Program (Simpedes). Kupedes, channeled through Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), served as a credit provision mechanism to support rural economic activities, including the agricultural sector. Rural entrepreneurship also flourished.
Meanwhile, to support the development of urban entrepreneurship, Suharto assigned state-owned banks to provide low-cost credit facilities. This assignment led to the establishment of the Small Investment Credit and Permanent Working Capital Credit (KIK/KMKP) facilities in 1973.
During that era, there were no fewer than 9,000 registered cooperatives (KUD) with 13.4 million members. KUDs, for example, were mandated to provide fertilizer and production inputs, market agricultural products, and even provide savings and loans to farmers. The village’s contribution and increased productivity of farming communities bore tangible fruit, marked by the achievement of rice self-sufficiency in 1984.
Soeharto also fostered a communicative atmosphere and dialogue with farming and fishing communities through the Kelompencapir (Listener, Reader, and Viewer Group) program. This program was realized through broadcasts on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), TVRI, and the newspaper “Goes to the Village” program. Through this program, Soeharto popularized development programs, including the Family Planning (KB) program. Conversely, farming communities were able to voice their aspirations.
It is not surprising that in every cabinet meeting on the economy, Soeharto and his ministers even discussed the prices of rice, tomatoes, onions, and curly chilies. All of this was discussed because Soeharto was concerned with the urgency of controlling inflation.
Kebutuhan anak-anak akan pendidikan dasar pun tak luput dari perhatian Soeharto. Dia menerbitkan instruksi presiden (Inpres) Nomor 10/1974 tentang pembangunan sekolah dasar. Pembangunan sekolah dasar pun masif. Hingga tahun 1994 misalnya, dibangun tak kurang dari 150.000 unit sekolah untuk SD Inpres. Sementara itu, untuk mencegah penyerapan ideologi lain, pemerintah berupaya menyosialisasikan nilai-nilai Pancasila kepada semua elemen masyarakat, Soeharto menginisiasi program Pedoman Penghayatan dan Pengamalan Pancasila (P4).
Aspek lain yang juga menarik untuk disimak adalah cara atau kebijakan Soeharto dalam memilih dan menunjuk calon pemimpin publik seperti gubernur, bupati atau walikota. Soeharto cenderung memilih figur-figur yang sudah melalui program pematangan di Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional (Lemhannas). Memang, tidak ada peraturan tertulis yang menetapkan bahwa calon pemimpin publik di era Orba harus lulus Lemhannas. Namun, pada era itu setiap figur yang ingin menjadi pemimpin publik selalu berusaha mengikuti program-program di Lemhannas. Hal ini sudah menjadi pengetahuan umum pasa masa itu.
Itulah sekilas catatan legasi dari Presiden Kedua Republik Indonesia, Soeharto. Untuk tiga dekade lebih pengabdiannya kepada negara-bangsa, MPR telah menganugerahi Soeharto gelar “Bapak Pembangunan Indonesia”. Penganugerahan itu tertuang dalam TAP MPR Nomor IV/MPR/1983. Gelar ini diberikan sebagai apresiasi atas keberhasilan pembangunan ekonomi dan infrastruktur yang signifikan selama masa kepemimpinannya melalui program-program Repelita.
Terkait dengan sosok Soeharto, sejarah Indonesia sejatinya sudah memasuki babak baru yang sarat makna dan refleksi mendalam. Pada 25 September 2024, MPR periode 2019–2024 yang dipimpin oleh Bambang Soesatyo menorehkan keputusan monumental, yakni mencabut tiga Ketetapan MPR yang selama puluhan tahun menjadi catatan kelam perjalanan sejarah republik. Dalam satu langkah politik yang menyatukan seluruh fraksi dan kelompok DPD, MPR resmi memulihkan nama baik tiga Presiden Republik Indonesia, yakni Presiden Soekarno, Presiden Soeharto, dan Presiden Abdurrahman Wahid.
TAP MPR yang dicabut adalah TAP MPRS Nomor XXXIII/MPRS/1967 tentang Pencabutan Kekuasaan Pemerintah Negara dari Presiden Sukarno; TAP MPR Nomor 11 Tahun 1998 tentang Penyelenggara Negara yang Bersih dan Bebas Korupsi, Kolusi, dan Nepotisme; serta TAP MPR Nomor II/MPR/2021 tentang Pertanggungjawaban Presiden Republik Indonesia KH Abdurrahman Wahid.
Keputusan ini disahkan dalam Sidang Akhir Masa Jabatan MPR 2019–2024 yang dihadiri lebih dari dua pertiga anggota MPR dari unsur DPR dan DPD. Sebelum sampai pada tahap pengesahan, keputusan tersebut telah melalui serangkaian rapat intensif. Rapat Gabungan Pimpinan MPR dengan seluruh pimpinan fraksi dan kelompok DPD pada 23 September 2024 menjadi forum penting yang menandai konsensus nasional. Dari situ, lahir kesepakatan politik yang jarang terjadi. Semua fraksi MPR dan kelompok DPD sepakat mengakhiri perdebatan panjang terkait tiga Presiden Indonesia tersebut.
Based on the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree restoring the good name of three Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, the initiative to bestow the title of National Hero on President Soeharto emerged. This title is not symbolic, but rather a form of respect and recognition of the undeniable facts of Soeharto’s legacy.
Like most people, Soeharto was only human and prone to mistakes. However, these inherent weaknesses do not automatically eliminate the value of his service to the nation. He was highlighted by history when Indonesia was caught in ideological conflict. He risked everything to uphold Pancasila. He also carried out his mandate as President by actualizing development in all sectors through the concept and strategy of the Five-Year Development Plan (Repelita). He deserves to be remembered as a national hero.