Habibie\'s Vision Should Continue

· 6 minutes read

People from all walks of life have bid their farewells to the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie, whose vision on technology and human resources remains relevant and should continue.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The third president of the Republic of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, was interred on Thursday (12/9/2019) at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta. While Habibie may be gone, his development vision, particularly on adding value through technological innovations – especially to the aerospace and maritime industries – and the importance of educated and skilled human resources, should continue through the present era.

"In his latter days, he tirelessly reminded us to always be human beings with Indonesian hearts. He continued to remind us of the importance of bolstering human resources equipped with religion, science and culture," President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said in delivering his eulogy while officiating the state funeral of Habibie.
National leaders who attended the state funeral at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery to bid farewell to Habibie included Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the fifth Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the sixth Indonesian president, former First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, the widow of Indonesia’s fourth president Abdurrahman Wahid, former vice president Hamzah Haz (2001-2004) and former vice president Try Sutrisno (1993-1998). Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also paid his respects to Habibie.
Members of the public also came to Kalibata cemetery to pay their respects to their third president. A crowd formed along the route of the funeral parade carrying Habibie\'s body from the funeral home in Patra Kuningan to Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.
Many waved as the hearse passed by and held aloft the cellphones to capture the event, while prayers and words of farewell for Habibie could be heard above the crowd that had gathered at the side of the road.
Several organizations held mass prayers for Habibie, including hundreds of employees of state aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia that performed the shalat gaib at Habiburrahman Mosque in Bandung, West Java.
Around 400 students and teachers also held a mass prayer at SDN Joglo state elementary school in Solo, Central Java. The students held paper airplanes they had made that they launched en masse following the prayer as a sign of respect for Habibie.
Reunited
Habibie was born on June 25, 1936 in Parepare, South Sulawesi, and died on Wednesday (11/9/2019) at 6:05 p.m. at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Jakarta. He was buried next to his wife, Hasri Ainun Besari. His sons Ilham Akbar Habibie and Thareq Kemal Habibie helped carry their father\'s body to the grave.
In his eulogy, President Jokowi stressed that Habibie\'s services to the country should not be forgotten, that Habibie laid the foundations of the democracy that the people of Indonesia enjoy to this day.
Jokowi said Habibie was a true statesman, an inspiration and a scientist who believed that knowledge was dangerous without love, and that science, faith and piety must be as one. Habibie was a role model for all children of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, in his eulogy, Ilham Akbar Habibie invited everyone to learn from his father, who was tireless and always pushed for unity. "Even when we might be half-dead, he called on (and ordered) all of us to always stand united. I believe this unity can be applied in Indonesia. We are all family," he said.
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
President Joko Widodo (left), accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla (second right), hands over a red-and-white flag to the sons of late former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, Ilham Akbar Habibie and Thareq Kemal Habibie, at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, on Thursday (12/9/2019). Habibie died the day before after suffering from heart failure at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.
In addition to driving technology and industry forward, Habibie fought for Islam and democracy in Indonesia to show the world that the two were compatible, said Ilham.
Habibie also set an example through his love for his children and for the people. The love he possessed was not just the love Habibie and Ainun shared – whose story has appeared on the big screen – but also his love for his relatives, for his work, for the country, and for the world.
"Love as widely as possible. His name is Habibie, who loved and was loved," Ilham said.
Habibie\'s vision had formed at a young age. His achievements and work will continue to contribute to Indonesia for the next 50-100 years. His passion for developing technology and industry had led to the birth of strategic industries in Indonesia. His dedication to research-based technology is undeniable and has been a source of inspiration for the Indonesian people. Indonesians developed the self-confidence to stand on an equal footing with major countries in the world.
"Indonesia has truly lost one of its best sons. We are here today at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery to pay our last respects to him," said President Jokowi.
Prior to the interment at Kalibata cemetery, a ceremony was held at the funeral home in Patra Kuningan for Habibie’s family to entrust his body to the government. Presiding over the ceremony was Constitutional Court chief justice Anwar Usman.
On behalf the government, Anwar expressed his condolences over Habibie’s passing. He prayed that all mistakes and sins that the deceased had made in life would be forgiven and that he would be received by God the Almighty.
KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo places a wreath on the grave of late former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie during his funeral procession at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Thursday. Habibie died the day before at the age of 83 after suffering from heart failure at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.
Legacy
One of Habibie\'s contributions, the N-250 aircraft, is still in storage in a hangar at PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI). The turboprop aircraft, which can carry 50-70 passengers, first flew in 1995. Although the project was halted due to the 1997 economic crisis, PT DI corporate communications and promotions manager Adi Prastowo said that the inaugural flight of the N-250 had opened the eyes of the world to Indonesia’s ability to develop the aircraft industry.
"Through his work, Pak Habibie inspired the next generation in aerospace," he said.
PT DI corporate secretary Irlan Budiman added that terminating the N-250 aircraft project did not diminish Habibie\'s enthusiasm. The aircraft manufacturer was currently developing the N-219 aircraft, and expected to complete its certification process this year.
KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO
Members of the Presidential Security Force carry the body of later former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, on Thursday (12/9/2019). Habibie died the day before at the age of 83 after suffering from heart failure at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.
President director Abraham Mose of state-owned weapons maker PT Pindad said that during his tenure as the head of Pindad in 1983-1998, Habibie introduced the idea of an independent Indonesia defense industry that would promote research and innovation and manufacture military equipment. "The basics of his idea have now become our [foundation]," he said. (INA/TAM/RWN/DIT/SEM/SHR/FAN/AYU/MTK/ERK/NTA)

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