PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. BOGOR - After carrying out the 116th National Awakening Day (Harkitnas) commemoration ceremony, the Acting Regent of Bogor Asmawa Tosepu together with the West Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General of Police Akhmad Wiyagus along with the Bogor Regency Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), made a pilgrimage and scattered flowers to the Tomb of the National Hero KH Dr . Idham Chalid located in Cisarua, Bogor Regency, Monday (20/5/2024)

Please note, the name KH Idham Chalid may be familiar to people who often hold Rp. 5,000 banknotes. Idham Chalid's face has been on the Rp. 5,000 denomination banknote since the 2016 issue. This National Hero has been immortalized again on the same denomination note issued in 2022.

Idham Chalid was born in Setui, South Kalimantan, on August 27 1922. He studied at the Amuntai People's School (SR), Madrasah Al Rasyidiyyah, and Madrasah Muallimin Tinggi Pondok Modern Gontor Ponorogo. In 1957 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

KH Dr. Idham Chalid (1922 – 2010) during his lifetime was a scholar and politician with a santri background in state duties. He was actively involved in various historical episodes of post-independence Indonesian government. The role that Idham Chalid has played on the national political stage since the fifties shows how the role of ulama is inseparable from the journey of the republic.

When he was young, he studied at Madrasah Mualimin Tinggi Pondok Modern Gontor, Ponorogo, East Java (1942). He received the Doctor Honoris Causa degree from Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 1957.

At a relatively young age, Idham Chalid has reached maturity in leadership. History paved the way for him to assume a state role during the reign of President Soekarno (Old Order) and the government of President Soeharto (New Order). He was an accomplished politician and statesman who survived all weather.

According to Kemenag.go.id, written by history and religion observer M. Fuad Nasar, Idham Chalid was recorded as having been Deputy Prime Minister in the Ali-Roem-Idham Cabinet (1956-1957), Deputy Prime Minister in the Djuanda Cabinet (1957-1959), and Deputy Prime Minister in the Dwikora Cabinet (1966).

Apart from that, he was a member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) and Deputy Chair of the MPRS (1962-1966). In the final episode of the Old Order, he served as Coordinating Minister in the Working Cabinet and Dwikora Cabinet.

When the New Order came to power, Idham Chalid was appointed Coordinating State Minister for People's Welfare in the First Development Cabinet (1968-1973) and ad interim Minister of Social Affairs (1970-1971).

After the 1971 General Election, he was elected Chairman of the DPR/MPR-RI for the 1971-1977 period. Subsequently he served as Chairman of DPA-RI for the period 1978-1983, and member of Team P7 (Advisor to the President on the Implementation of Guidelines for the Appreciation and Practice of Pancasila) with its chairman Dr. H. Roeslan Abdulgani.

In the clerical organization, Idham Chalid sat as a member of the Advisory Council of the Central Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) starting in 1985. In the midst of this journey, Idham Chalid co-founded the United Development Party (PPP) on January 5 1973 and was trusted to become president of the PPP party.

Before entering the world of politics, Idham Chalid was known as a driver of public education. He spent his youth serving his alma mater by teaching at the Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School. Idham is also the Director of the Noormal Islamic School in Amuntai, South Kalimantan.

Apart from that, he also founded two Islamic religious education foundations, Darul Maarif in South Jakarta and Darul Qur'an in Cisarua, Bogor. This education should not be commercialized. This is the commitment of Idham Chalid.

Idham Chalid died on July 11 2010 which coincided with 28 Sha'ban 1431 H at the age of 80 years. He was buried in Cisarua, Bogor with military ceremonies. For his services to the country, Idham Chalid was awarded the title of National Hero on November 7 2011.

In the same year, the government also awarded the title of National Hero to two other Islamic figures, namely Prof. Dr. Hamka and Mr. Sjafruddin Prawiranegara.