Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto declared his grandfather a national hero on Tuesday, issuing a decree on the national Heroes’ Day that adds Margono Djojohadikusumo to a list of over 200 luminaries.
The designation follows a public nomination originating from Central Java, where Margono was born in Purwokerto in 1894, according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf. Yusuf told journalists at the Presidential Palace complex on Monday that the nomination went through an assessment process before reaching the National Heroes Title Council, known as Dewan Gelar.
Presidential Decision No. 93.TK/2026, signed on November 10, 2026, formalized the titles for 19 prominent figures during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, ANTARA News reported.
“Margono is one of those who meet the requirements, and we have nominated him,” Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said.
Margono Djojohadikusumo contributed to independence and banking
Tuesday’s decree called Margono a national hero in politics and economics who made extraordinary contributions to the struggle for independence. He served as a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence in 1945, helping lay the groundwork for freedom from Japanese colonial rule.
Margono also founded Bank Negara Indonesia in 1946 as the country’s first post-independence bank and served as its first president director, issuing the nation’s first official currency. ANTARA News noted that he also served as the inaugural head of the Supreme Advisory Council.
Did You Know? The national hero honour comes with an annual stipend for the family of some 50 million rupiah, which amounts to about $2,770.
Honoring Suharto Amid Human Rights Protests
The decision arrives a year after Prabowo granted national hero status to his former father-in-law, deceased dictator Suharto, despite protests from rights groups over his human rights record. Suharto died at the age of 86 in 2008 after governing Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades following a power grab in 1967 after a failed military coup, a period marked by corruption allegations and crackdowns on political dissent.
Activists and NGOs subsequently filed a lawsuit in a Jakarta court to challenge Suharto’s national hero status. No judgment has been issued in that legal challenge.
Broader Awards and Family Reactions
Alongside Margono, the 19 figures honored on Tuesday included former police chief General Hoegeng Iman Santoso and former Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin, drawing praise from Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung for their service to the capital and the nation.
Krisnadi Ramajaya Hoegeng, a grandson of General Hoegeng, expressed gratitude at the State Palace, stating that the award was beyond expectations and hoping the general’s strict adherence to rules and integrity would inspire younger generations toward a prosperous Indonesia by 2045.
“Certainly, we as a family feel extremely grateful and very proud of this award given to the late general through this National Hero title,” Krisnadi Ramajaya Hoegeng, a grandson of General Hoegeng, said.
While candidates undergo formal review by the National Heroes Title Council retains final authority to approve titles that frequently reopen debates over past authoritarian rule.
Who approves candidates and what stipends are provided?
Who approves candidates for the national hero title?
Candidates for the posthumous title are proposed by a committee and approved by the president, who holds the final authority to confer national hero titles after recommendations from the Dewan Gelar.
What financial stipend accompanies the recognition?
The honour comes with an annual stipend for the family of some 50 million rupiah, which is about $2,770.
What was the outcome of the lawsuit against Suharto’s title?
Activists and NGOs filed a lawsuit in a Jakarta court to challenge Suharto’s national hero status, but no judgment has been issued.
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