Ada dua gaya kepemimpinan di Nusantara yang saya sukai dan, Alhamdulillah, masih bisa dikenang serta dipelajari oleh anak cucu kita, yakni Teuku Umar dan Jenderal Sudirman.
Sampai saat ini, saya merasa gaya kepemimpinan seperti itu belum benar-benar muncul kembali. Namun, bukan tidak mungkin suatu saat akan lahir lagi—siapa tahu, bisa saja dari diri kita sendiri.
Gaya kepemimpinan keduanya merupakan gaya khas yang lahir dari bumi Nusantara. Ia tumbuh dari nilai, budaya, dan jiwa masyarakatnya, berbeda dengan pola kepemimpinan ala Eropa yang dahulu dibawa oleh Belanda dan Inggris.
Mohon maaf, menurut pandangan saya, gaya kepemimpinan seperti itu sulit muncul kembali apabila seseorang masih terikat kuat dalam sistem partai politik, instansi kesehatan, instansi pendidikan, bahkan di lingkungan militer maupun kepolisian. Saya kembali memohon maaf apabila pendapat ini berbeda dengan pandangan yang lain.
Karena itu, saya berpesan agar anak-anak kita tidak mudah terjebak dalam “permainan dunia”, tetapi tetap fokus pada pendidikan serta aturan yang telah ditetapkan—atau yang sering disebut sebagai SOP (Standar Operasional Prosedur). Jangan mudah terbuai oleh gaya kepemimpinan yang tampak bermoral dan mengedepankan kekeluargaan, tetapi pada kenyataannya justru menguras energi dan sumber daya. Di mana pun anak-anak kita berada, pegang teguh aturan dan prinsip yang jelas.
Banyak orang bertanya, mengapa Jenderal Sudirman bisa berada di militer? Jawaban saya: pelajarilah sejarah dengan cermat. Jangan hanya memandang sejarah dari tulisan para sejarawan secara doktrinal. Dalamilah lebih jauh siapa sebenarnya sosok Jenderal Sudirman.
Saat ini, yang sering saya lihat justru adalah gaya kepemimpinan yang cenderung “flexing”, mengikuti tren dan kepentingan. Gaya seperti ini lebih sering terlihat dalam lingkup kecil, bahkan dalam keluarga masing-masing pada zaman sekarang.
Semoga orang tua kita memiliki keteladanan seperti mereka. Amin.
There are two leadership styles in the Nusantara that I deeply admire and, Alhamdulillah, are still remembered and can be studied by our future generations: Teuku Umar and Jenderal Sudirman.
Until today, I feel that such leadership has not truly re-emerged. However, that does not mean it is impossible. One day, it may rise again—perhaps even from within ourselves.
Their leadership represents a distinctive style born from the soil of the Nusantara. It grew out of the values, culture, and spirit of its own people—different from the European leadership models once introduced by colonial powers such as the Dutch and the British.
I apologize if this view differs from others. In my opinion, such leadership will be difficult to emerge if a person remains deeply bound within rigid systems—whether in political parties, healthcare institutions, educational institutions, or even within the military and police. Systems often shape patterns, while great leadership is frequently born from the courage to transcend those patterns.
Therefore, I remind our children not to become easily trapped in the “games of the world.” Stay focused on education, discipline, and established rules—often referred to as SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Do not be easily captivated by leadership styles that appear moral and family-oriented but, in reality, drain energy and resources. Wherever they are, they must hold firmly to clear rules and principled values.
Many people ask why Jenderal Sudirman was in the military. My answer is simple: study history carefully. Do not view it solely through doctrinal writings. Go deeper into who he truly was—his life journey, his formative process, the values he upheld, and the sacrifices he made.
Today, what we often see instead is a leadership style that loves “flexing”—chasing image, trends, and short-term interests. This kind of leadership even appears in smaller circles, including within families in our current era.
May our parents be able to revive such examples of leadership—brave, honest, rooted in values, and devoted to a greater cause. Ameen.
