Monday, 29 August 2022 | 10:45
Arfi Bambani
The grave of the Indonesian national hero Tuanku Tambusai in Seremban City, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

TheIndonesia.id - The leadership and staff of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Johor Bahru, Malaysia, took on a pilgrimage to the grave of the national hero Tuanku Tambusai in Seremban City, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Tuanku Tambusai has been named a National Hero of Indonesia since 1995.

"This tomb is historical evidence that signifies a strong brotherly relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia. This is evidenced by the many descendants of the people of Riau and West Sumatra in Negeri Sembilan," said the Acting Social and Cultural Information Function (Pensosbud) of the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru Mohamad Rizali Noor in Kuala Lumpur, Sunday, August 28, 2022.

In addition to sending prayers during the pilgrimage on Saturday, August 27, 2022, the Indonesian Consulate General, who was also represented by Social and Cultural Education staff Syafrizal, Police technical staff Yunik Dwi Astuti and teachers from the Indonesian School Johor Bahru, Ardian, met with the seventh descendant of Tuanku Tambusai, Yaser Al Masri Bin Abdul Rahman Tambusai, and Assistant Curator of the Museum Asrul Effendi bin Kamaruzzaman and Assistant Curator of the Tapak Unit Mohd Nazim bin Abd Ghaman.

Tuanku Tambusai is an Indonesian national hero who is known as a strategist. He was born in Rokan Hulu, Riau, on November 5, 1784, and joined the struggle with Tuanku Imam Bonjol. After the Padri War, Tuanku Tambusai and his troops moved to the Peninsula to live and settle down.

And in 1882, he died and was buried in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Tuanku Tambusai, who is nicknamed "Tiger Padri of Rokan", has a well-known piece of advice to this day, "The Dutch are not strong, but we are weak because we are divided", said Rizali.

Meanwhile, Yaser said Tuanku Tambusai was designated by President Soeharto as one of Indonesia's national heroes in 1995. However, the whereabouts of his grave in Negeri Sembilan may not be widely known.

The meeting between Yaser and the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru was the first step in the joint management plan of Tuanku Tambusai's grave in Negeri Sembilan. The management of the tomb will be carried out through the framework of the "Government to Government" cooperation between the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs and the Negeri Sembilan Museum Office.