Former Vice-President, Dr. (HC) Drs. HM Jusuf Kalla, has earned Hamengku Buwono (HB) IX Award from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Award presentation was done during the summit of 70th anniversary celebration of UGM on Thursday (19/12) in Grha Sabha Pramana UGM.
Jusuf Kalla has been selected by UGM for the award due to his social works. His roles have made real contribution in improving reasoning quality and people welfare, and he has been actively engaged in works for advancement, prosperity, and peace.
Receiving the HB IX Award, Jusuf Kalla extended his appreciation to all members of UGM academic community that had selected him. It was a pride to himself moreover to see the great history of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX (HB IX) and Prime Minister Gadjah Mada in the past.
"This is the ultimate award because HB IX is a great national figure that fought and defended the state independence. So is Gadjah Mada that always tried to unite Nusantara. This award is a special and significant one for me,” he said.
Jusuf Kalla mentioned that currently it was the duty of all citizens of Indonesia to continue doing what HB IX had done in his life. While Kalla as a state official had tried his best to serve the nation.
"Earning this award from UGM is a pride to me and family. I hope we can all continue the aspiration of advancing the nation,” he said.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU., ASEAN., Eng., said UGM each year looks after and selects a figure that has nationalistic spirit like HB IX who had made great contribution to the nation and people. "Jusuf Kalla is known as a peacemaker, the promoter of conflict resolution, and never lost solution to resolving state problems. Thus, he deserved to earn the award,” said Panut.
After the HB IX Award presentation at UGM, on Thursday evening Jusuf Kalla is scheduled to deliver a speech in Pagelaran Keraton Yogyakarta.