Patung Hamid Rusdi

The Hamid Rusdi statue was built on November 10, 1975 placed on the intersection of Semeru Street and Arjuna Street, later moved to the Sengkaling Recreation Park and now it is located on the Simpang Balapan Roundabout, Panggung Street. It was inaugurated by the Minister of Home Affairs at that time, Rudini.

The figure of Hamid Rusdi was depicted standing straight on a circular stage, dressed in a complete uniform. The pants that he was wearing appeared wider around the thigh. His right hand was holding a gun that was still attached to its holster while his left was on the scabbard which was standing on the ground and tied to his belt with a rope. An inauguration and a quote plaque were displayed in front of the statue with some of their letters missing.

Hamid Rusdi was a national hero from Malang who died on March 8, 1949. He was recruited into the army and received training from the Japanese when he was a prison guard in Lowokawaru Prison. Hamid Rusdi led the City People’s Guerrilla (GRK) force which would later become the underground force during Military Aggression 1.

History observer, Eko Irawan, mentioned Hamid Rusdi’s two strategies, namely the ‘relay’ and the ‘surat pantat’ strategy. This method was used to deliver mission orders from one check point to another. When the content of the letters were very important, the letter would be inserted into the butt of the undercover female agent disguised as a local market merchant to escape the enemy’s search.

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Patung Hamid Rusdi didirikan pada tanggal 10 November 1975 di persimpangan Jalan Semeru dan Jalan Arjuna, yang kemudian dipindahkan ke Taman Rekreasi Sengkaling. Sekarang Patung Hamid Rusdi berlokasi di Bundaran Simpang Balapan, Jl. Panggung nomor 2A yang diresmikan kembali oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri pada waktu itu, Rudini.

Sosok Hamid Rusdi digambarkan berdiri tegap di atas panggung lingkaran berpakaian seragam lengkap dengan sabuk, topi hingga sepatu bot. Celana seragam yang ia kenakan tampak lebih lebar di bagian paha. Tangan kanan sedang menggenggam pistol yang masih di dalam saku sedangkan tangan kiri di atas sarung pedang yang berdiri di atas tanah, terikat ke sabuk dengan tali. Di bagian depan panggung terdapat plakat dengan tulisan yang sudah tidak utuh.

Hamid Rusdi, gugur pada tanggal 8 Maret 1949, merupakan tokoh pahlawan nasional asli Malang. Beliau ditarik menjadi tentara dan mendapat pelatihan oleh Jepang semasa beliau masih menjadi sipir penjara di Lowokawaru. Hamid Rusdi memimpin pasukan Gerilya Rakyat Kota (GRK) yang merupakan cikal bakal pasukan bawah tanah pada masa Agresi Militer I. Hamid Rusdi menyiasati melemahnya kekuatan pasukannya di Turen pada masa Agresi Militer II dengan siasat gerilya. Pemerhati sejarah Eko Irawan menyebut 2 strategi Hamid Rusdi yakni estafet dan sistem “surat pantat”. Cara ini dipakai untuk mengantar surat perintah pelaksanaan dari pos satu ke pos lainnya dan apabila isi surat sangat penting, maka surat akan dimasukkan ke dalam pantat pejuang wanita yang menyamar agar luput dari penggeledahan.

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