NasDem Proposes Istiqlal Architect Friedrich Silaban as National Hero
The NasDem faction in the House of Representatives has proposed that Friedrich Silaban, the architect of the Istiqlal Mosque, be designated a national hero.
Deputy Chairman of the NasDem Faction, Martin Manurung, said he had enlisted various parties, from the government of North Tapanuli, where Friedrich was born, to his family, in order to put forward the proposal.
“We brainstormed, uniting our vision on how to work together to begin the process of proposing that the late Mr Friedrich Silaban be made a national hero,” Martin said at the parliament complex on Monday (13 July).
He noted that Friedrich was not only the architect of the Istiqlal building, the largest mosque in South-East Asia, but also of the Gelora Bung Karno complex, the National Monument (Monas) and the Bank Indonesia building.
“In the view of the NasDem faction, these are not merely buildings, but expressions of Indonesian identity conceived by the nation’s founders, realised by the late Mr Friedrich Silaban in his architectural designs,” he said.
Martin said his side would soon coordinate with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Culture to convey the proposal, which would subsequently be submitted to the President.
“Of course, the proposal goes to the President. We will put it forward to him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Friedrich’s son, Panogu Silaban, expressed his gratitude for the proposal that his father be named a national hero, saying he welcomed it wholeheartedly.
“I am deeply grateful. It is a source of pride for our family and an honour for my father,” he said.
Friedrich was the Protestant Christian architect of the Istiqlal Mosque. He won the design competition held by President Soekarno in 1955.
Friedrich Silaban later received the Civil Service Medal of Honour in the form of the Utama Service Star from the government for his design of the Istiqlal Mosque.
He died on 14 May 1984 due to ill health and was buried at the Cipaku Public Cemetery in Bogor, West Java.