Habibie: A reformer and a democrat


Man of peace: A filepic of Habibie gesturing during an interview with European journalists at the Bina Graha presidential office in Jakarta. — AFP

Although some believed he was betrayed by his own party, he was a gentleman politician unfazed by all the lobbying and jostling around him. Hopefully history will be kind to a true Indonesian patriot.

I ATTENDED the 1995 annual meeting of Ikatan Cendekiawan Muslim Indonesia (Indonesian Association of Muslim Intellectuals), better-known as ICMI, in Jakarta as an observer. Something dramatic happened the day before the historic event. The then president of Indonesia, Suharto, fired the Minister of Trade, Prof Dr Satrio Budihardjo Joedono from his Cabinet.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Columnists

How are ties between the PM and DPM?
Progress and heritage can co-exist
Vital to keep public walkways clear
Sharing the Benefits of Smart Technologies: Building a Shared Digital Future for China and Malaysia
Stepping up to the podium�
The Tunku's Birthday Gift, 60 Years On
It’s back - the winning factor’s Premier League season preview
Don’t ditch technology, train it to work smarter
A noisy weekend for PMX
Vision of a shared destiny

Others Also Read