REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo awarded the national hero title to late Police Commissioner General Moehammad Jasin on Thursday, the first to be received by a police force personnel.

"He is the first policeman to be awarded with the national hero title," one of his grandchildren, Ridwan Zachrie, said after the presentation of the award at the state palace.

He said his grandfather was from Sulawesi, but had fought against Dutch colonialists in East Java.

"He was an extraordinary policeman, who had proclaimed the Indonesian police and was later involved in the November 10 battle in Surabaya (East Java)," Ridwan said.

He admitted that none of his grandfather's four children had followed his footsteps by becoming a police personnel, but they had all adopted the legacy of his heroic spirit.

Moehammad's first child, Rubyanti Jasin, said she felt very happy with the title, which she had fought to get for her father.

"We have long fought for it and finally it was achieved. Father's service to the police force is extraordinary and has led to this title," she said.

Moehammad Jasin was born in Bau-Bau, Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, on June 9, 1920 and died at the age of 92 in 2012.

He was married to the late Siti Aliyah Kessing, and has four children--Rubiyanti Jasin, Djuahar Jasin, Djuanda Jasin and Djuwaitar Jasin.

The Indonesian public will commemorate National Hero Day on November 10.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika