A Number of Scholars Received the Star of Mahaputera Utama

JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto awarded the Mahaputera Star to a number of Islamic scholars and leaders in Indonesia. Leaders from Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama were among those who received the award.

The general chairs of PBNU and PP Muhammadiyah each received the Mahaputera Utama Star. In an attached letter released by the Ministry of State Secretariat, Rais Aam PBNU KH Miftachul Akhyar was described as “having made extraordinary contributions in the fields of religion and nationalism through his leadership as Rais Aam PBNU, strengthening the role of Islam as a source of mercy for all creation.”

KH Akhyar was also credited with promoting religious moderation and maintaining unity among the people, which was widely publicized, thereby strengthening national harmony and stability.

Meanwhile, the General Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, Prof Haedar Nashir, was described as having “rendered outstanding services in the fields of religion, education, and national affairs through his leadership as General Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, which has expanded educational networks, health services, and social movements that have been widely publicized, thereby strengthening the role of civil society and improving the quality of human resources.”

“As the General Chairman and on behalf of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, I express gratitude for this award, and earlier, the President also expressed gratitude to everyone for their sacrifices and dedication—that is the key point,” Haedar said in response to the award when speaking to Republika.

Haedar expressed his special gratitude to President Prabowo for the award given to him. According to him, the Mahaputera Utama Star is not just a symbol, but a form of recognition from the state to those who are considered to have contributed in their respective fields.

"I am grateful to President Prabowo Subianto. There is something very important here, where he has so generously recognized, accommodated, and united the nation's potential through this award. So this award is not just an ordinary award, but it carries the spirit of unity, as reflected in the theme of Indonesia's 80th Independence Anniversary: ‘United!’" said Haedar.

From Muhammadiyah, there is also Prof. Abdul Mu'ti, who currently serves as the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education. In an attached letter released by the Ministry of State Secretariat, he is described as “having made extraordinary contributions to education through policies in basic and secondary education that strengthen the national curriculum, equitable access to education, and the improvement of teacher quality, which have been widely publicized, thereby enhancing the quality of the younger generation, strengthening the character of the nation, and reinforcing Indonesia's competitiveness.”

Another religious leader who received the Mahaputera Utama Star is the founder of the Tebu Ireng Islamic Boarding School, the late KH Yusuf Hasyim. The late KH Maimun Zubair, the head of the Al-Anwar Islamic Boarding School in Rembang, also received the Mahaputera Utama Star. Next is the late KH Abdullah Abbas, the head of the Buntet Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon, West Java.

The Star of Mahaputera Utama is an honorary award given by the President of the Republic of Indonesia to those who are deemed to have made outstanding contributions to maintaining the integrity, continuity, and glory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The honorary award was first given in 1961 and is routinely given to individuals who are deemed to have made contributions every August in commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day.