Majalengka Government Proposes KH Abbas Abdul Jamil as National Hero
The Majalengka Regency Government has declared its full support and commitment to the proposal to name the great West Java ulama, KH Abbas Abdul Jamil, as a National Hero.
This was conveyed by the Bupati of Majalengka, Eman Suherman, while attending the National Seminar on the Proposal for the National Hero Title of KH Abbas Abdul Jamil held at the Hall of MA Unggulan Amanatul Ummah 02 Leuwimunding on Sunday (9/8/2026).
The seminar featured the Professor of Islamic Civilisation History at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, who is also the Chair of the Central Title Research and Assessment Team (TP2GP), Prof Usep Abdul Matin, and the General Chair of Pergunu, Prof KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim. The event was also attended by various community figures and ulama from across Region 3 Cirebon.
Eman stressed that the effort to secure the National Hero title for the figure nicknamed the “Lion of West Java” is not merely about remembering the past, but rather an effort to affirm the nation’s identity.
“On behalf of the Majalengka Regency Government, I declare full support and commitment to the effort to propose KH Abbas Abdul Jamil as a National Hero. This struggle is the struggle of West Java, and is our shared pride,” said Eman.
Eman revealed that KH Abbas Abdul Jamil’s track record as the caretaker of Buntet Cirebon Islamic Boarding School saw him appear on the front line leading the West Java santri forces in answering the call of the Jihad Resolution. He led the battle to defend independence on 10 November 1945 in Surabaya.
In addition to being a fighter, KH Abbas was also known as a pioneer of pesantren education reform incorporating general sciences since the 1920s.
Based on the review by the Central Title Research and Assessment Team (TP2GP), KH Abbas Abdul Jamil is one of 38 national hero candidates declared to have met the requirements with the most complete historical data based on primary sources.
For this reason, Eman emphasised the importance of academic forums, such as seminars and book reviews, to strengthen scientific arguments and broaden publication to the public. “The book we are reviewing today is not merely sheets of paper, but a civilisational endeavour to place a hero in his rightful place,” he asserted.