August 28, 2025
JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto has conferred civilian honors on more than 100 national figures, with many of the medals going to his closest political allies, cabinet members, campaign financiers and even a family member.
In a ceremony that took place at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Prabowo presented the medals to 117 of the 141 honorees, with the rest, who were absent due to health or personal reasons, expected to receive theirs at later national events.
Among the honorees were those receiving the Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama, one of the nation’s highest civilian distinctions. They included House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani and Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, as well as People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani.
Both Dasco and Muzani are senior figures in Prabowo’s Gerindra Party, while Puan is the daughter of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has recently forged closer ties with Prabowo despite her party staying outside the ruling coalition.
Among the honorees were also retired Army generals Agum Gumelar, AM Hendropriyono and special presidential advisor on political and security affairs Wiranto, who all threw their weight behind Prabowo’s presidential campaign in last year’s election.
Another high distinction, the Bintang Mahaputra, went to several cabinet members, including Coordinating Social Empowerment Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, Coordinating Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
The Bintang Mahaputra is the second-highest civilian honor after the Bintang Republik Indonesia.
The President also gave this award to other key figures in his Gerindra party and inner circle, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, Culture Minister Fadli Zon, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
A number of businessmen were also bestowed with this medal, including Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, better known as Haji Isam, owner of Jhonlin Group and one of the major financiers of Prabowo’s presidential campaign last year, as well as Hashim Djojohadikusumo, founder of Arsari Group and Prabowo’s brother.
The conferment of honors is a longstanding tradition held annually to commemorate Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17, recognizing citizens who have made significant contributions to politics, governance, culture or public service.
Hashim, who currently serves as presidential special envoy for climate and energy, said while he initially felt “uncomfortable” receiving the medal from his brother, he pledged to “dedicate himself even more in service to the nation”.
In his speech, Prabowo expressed gratitude on behalf of the nation: “To those whose parents are no longer with us, to their heirs, on behalf of the country, we thank you for their service. May their contributions continue to inspire future generations.”
The number of honorees this year, many of whom are either in Prabowo’s inner circle or his political allies, is more than double the 64 individuals who were honored by then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo last year.
Political analyst Arif Susanto criticized the awards as a “clearance sale of state decorations” less than a year into Prabowo’s presidency, calling it a strategy by the President to “secure loyalty” from the political elites.
He said that the awards, alongside the government’s approval of the controversial Rp 50 million (US$3,077) monthly housing allowance for lawmakers that triggered street protests on Monday, reflected Prabowo’s broader effort to shore up his political base through “transactional politics”.
“Both the allowances and the awards reflect Prabowo’s lack of confidence in his political position,” Arif said. “He is trying to secure support through political exchanges.”
State Secretary Prasetyo has defended the awards, saying that they reflected Prabowo’s view that the state had not done enough in the past to recognize deserving citizens
“The President truly wants to give recognition to the nation’s best sons and daughters who have excelled,” he said.