[Unpad.ac.id, 11/04/2016] Supersemar scholarship program has become one of supporting facilities on college financing. In its long journey, the scholarship initiated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia (alm) H.M. Soeharto has delivered many various figures to become state officials.
It was said by Chairman of Supersemar Scholarship Student and Alumni (KMA PBS) Dr. H.M. Syahrial Yusuf, S.E., M.M., as speaker in National Discussion of “Supersemar Implication for Indonesia Civilization” in commemoration of 50 Year of Supersemar in Grha Sanusi Hardjadinata Unpad, Jalan Dipati Ukur No. 35, Bandung, Monday (11/04).
Other speakers in the national discussion were Yudi Latief (scholars) and Dr. Dudy Heryadi (Lecturer of FISIP Unpad) with Erwin Kustiman (Managing Editor of Pikiran Rakyat) as moderator. Also present in the event were Director of Student Affairs and Alumni Unpad Dr. Ir. Heryawan Kemal Mustafa, M.Sc., and former Minister of Industry 2005-2009, Fahmi Idris, SE., MH.
Syahrial said that as one of the alumni of the Supersemar scholarship recipients, he recognized benefits of this scholarship to quality of the student’s education. This alumnus of Faculty of Economics and Business Unpad was a Supersemar scholarship recipients in 1985 to 1986.
“This Supersemar Scholarship has produced many great people. Had they at that time did not get a scholarship, I’m sure they would have not be in their positions now, “said Syahrial.
The scholarship program, which has been implemented since 1974, is managed by Yayasan Supersemar. The initiator of the foundation, President Suharto, has the goodwill to facilitate the younger generation to be able to continue on to higher education.
Until now, Supersemar scholarship has produced many important key persons, among them: former Chairman of the Constitutional Court Prof. Dr. Moh. Mahfud MD., Former Minister of National Education 2009-2014 Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nuh, Minister of Finance 2014-2109 Bambang Brodjonegoro, and Cabinet Secretary RI Pramono Anung . Other alumni work as professors, directors of companies, academia, and entrepreneurs.
From 1974 until now, the total funds disbursed by Supersemar has reached more than 700 billion rupiah, with more than 2 million awardees. Syahrial also believed that this scholarship program should be continued, although at this time the foundation was overwhelmed with legal cases.
The Name Supersemar
The naming of Supersemar for the scholarship by President Soeharto was taken from the acronym of Supersemar on March 11, 1966. This letter was a presidential instruction to Suharto warranting the then Pangkopkamtib to overcome the security situation after G30S upheaval.
Fahmi Idris in his keynote speech on the occasion said that Supersemar was evidence of constitutionally correct power transition of President Sukarno to Soeharto.
“The transition of power based on basic values of the constitution. That values were proof of advanced civilization of a nation, “said Fahmi.
This alumnus of Master in Business Law Universitas Padjadjaran said that with Supersemar, security issues handling was rated good and has avoided various other conflicts. This event was expected to be a reflection of the current administration to rely back on the basis of the Indonesian constitution.
Scholars Yudi Latief assessed the injustice against execution of cases against Supersemar by the government. He compared that many actors of tax evasion still untouched; they incidentally do not hold importance for intellectual level of the nation.
“We can say that Supersemar foundation has legal problems but on top of that legal procedures there must be sense of justice. If the tax evasion parties were granted tax amnesty, then a foundation has clearly dedicated itself to education should be given space to live, “said Yudi.
Also held on the event the signing of 50th Anniversary Cover of Supersemar by Dr. Heryawan with PBS KMA chairman of West Java, Cecep Darmawan.*
Reported by Arief Maulana / eh
