Din Syamsuddin: Besides Being a Proclamator, Bung Karno Was Also a Figure of Indonesian Muslims

Former General Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsuddin, has asserted that to this day, Bung Karno is recognised as a figure admired by the international community. He himself greatly admires Bung Karno, having read almost all of the works by the Proclamator of the Republic of Indonesia, especially the book titled ‘Di Bawah Bendera Revolusi’ (Under the Banner of Revolution). “Bung Karno is undeniable; besides being the Proclamator, he was also a figure of Indonesian Muslims, even a figure admired by the international community. I once visited Cairo, Egypt, and there is a street named Ahmad Sukarno there,” said Din Syamsuddin during the 56th Haul of Bung Karno at the At-Taufiq Mosque, Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Sunday (21/6/2026). For this reason, the former General Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) urged the Central Board of Baitul Muslimin Indonesia (PP Bamusi) to follow in Bung Karno’s footsteps by pioneering a dialogue among all Islamic mass organisations to discuss Indonesia’s current conditions. He asked this Islamic wing of the PDI-P to become the driving force for the dialogue, from inviting participants to providing facilities. “Bung Karno is known as a solidarity maker, a unifier of multicultural Indonesia across religions, ethnicities, and groups. Bamusi, as the Islamic wing of PDI Perjuangan, should capture and continue Bung Karno’s teachings in the form of a flame, not dust,” Din Syamsuddin stressed. The Professor of Political Science at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta assessed that input from Islamic mass organisations for the government is crucial so that the wheels of government under President Prabowo Subianto run in a measured manner. He cited as an example that it is not appropriate for Indonesia to currently be involved in the Board of Peace (BoP) formed by the US, because Palestine does not need a peace organisation created by President Donald Trump. “If Bung Karno were still alive, he would certainly not agree with Indonesia joining that BoP. Bung Karno’s blood is unconditional independence for Palestine, because independence is the right of all nations,” asserted the political science doctorate graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA. According to Din Syamsuddin, Bung Karno is not only recorded in history as a solidarity maker, but there are three other labels attached to him. First, Bung Karno is known for his persistence in integrating national insight and religious insight, particularly Islam. Second, Bung Karno is known for his skill in associating with national figures across different schools of thought. Third, Bung Karno is famous for the Tri Sakti concept he consistently championed.