Writer, researcher, and politician Badruddin Umar has announced that he will not accept the Independence Award.
In a statement sent to the media on Thursday night, he shared this decision.
The statement read: "Since 1973, I have been offered awards from various government and private organizations. I have not accepted any of them. Now, the current interim government has announced that they will present me with the Independence Award. I thank them for this gesture. However, it is not possible for me to accept this award either."
The Independence Award is the highest state honor in the country.
Since 1977, the government has presented this award annually on March 26, marking Independence Day.
