Ministry of Social Affairs Rehab Sultan Hasanuddin National Heroes Cemetery

GOWA (July 16, 2019) - Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita inaugurated the rehabilitation of the Sultan Hasanuddin National Heroes Cemetery Complex (MPN) in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, Tuesday.

"Through the rehabilitation of the Sultan Hasanuddin National Heroes Cemetery complex, it is expected to further enhance the function of the tombs of national heroes not only as the place of the burial of heroes, but also as a means of education and a national pilgrimage tourism destination," the Minister said in his direction.

He said that the MPN rehabilitation was expected to be able to attract the attention and visits of tourists, young people and citizens. The Minister hoped the visit to the TMPN would encourage them to get to know more about the figure of the hero and the struggle of the hero who was buried. One of them is the history of Sultan Hassanudin's heroism.

"In this MPN we can instill the values ​​of Heroism, Pioneering, Solidarity and Social Restoration for the next generation," said the Minister.

In the future, continued the Minister of Social Affairs, to increase the visit to MPN, it is necessary to collaborate with various parties including the tourism office, social service, education office, business world, print media, electronic media and all other elements of society.

Meanwhile in his report, Director General of Social Empowerment Pepen Nazarudin explained in 2018 through the allocation of state budget funds, the Ministry of Social Affairs carried out the rehabilitation of the Sultan Hasanuddin MPN as the initial step to establish a Tourist Pilgrimage Destination at the National Heroes Cemetery.

Pepen explained that the rehabilitation component of the Sultan Hasanuddin MPN was derived from an allocation of Rp. 2 billion in state budget funds including Parks and Parking, a Meeting Hall, Tugu Batu Palunggun, Baruga, and the Gate of the Tomb Fence.

The budget from this center is supported by the Gowa Regency Government's APBD fund, South Sulawesi Province in the amount of Rp2.5 billion for the construction of Historical Park.

Sultan Hasanuddin or Mallombosi Daeng Kraeng Bontomangape was a brave figure in driving out invaders from the land of South Sulawesi to the Netherlands at the time giving him the nickname the Rooster from the East. He is also the 16th King of Gowa who held the reins of power for 17 years.

For his outstanding services, the Government of Indonesia later awarded the National Hero Title based on Presidential Decree No. 87 / TK / 1973 on November 6, 1973.

After inaugurating the rehabilitation of MPN Sultan Hasanuddin, Social Minister was accompanied by Director General of Social Empowerment Pepen Nazarudin along with Deputy Gowa Regent Abdul Rauf Malaganni reviewed the TMPN complex and made pilgrimages at the tomb of Sultan Hasanuddin and several other graves.

As a manifestation of the Ministry of Social concern for the education of children in the Sultan Hasanuddin MPN environment, the Minister of Social Affairs also provided school equipment assistance to 150 students of SD Inpres Tinggimae and 150 students of SMP Negeri 04 Sungguminasa.

Also present at the inauguration of MPN rehabilitation Sultan Hasanuddin Director General of Social Rehabilitation Edi Suharto, Special Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs Febri Hendri and Neil Iskandar, Head of Public Relations Bureau Sonny W. Manalu, Director of Social Empowerment, Individuals, Family and Community Institutions (PSPKKM) Bambang Mulyadi, Director Management of Hotman Social Assistance Funds (PSDBS).

Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu