The Legacy of B.J. Habibie

KOMPAS/DUDY SUDIBYO

B.J. Habibie (left).

The passing of Indonesia’s third president, B.J. Habibie, is a great loss for this nation. Even though his presidency lasted only about 17 months, he has left a genuine legacy.

Habibie died on Wednesday, 11 Sept. 2019, at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta. He was 83. President Joko Widodo said at the hospital, “I believe he was a statesman of merit that can be an example, a role model, for us.”

We agree with the President’s statement. In addition from his renown as the “father of technology”, Habibie was a great statesman and did not crave power. Habibie never sought to pursue his own interests. Habibie always thought about how Indonesia could be saved and guided towards greater progress.

Habibie was in office for a brief period, from 21 May 1998 to 20 Oct. 1999. Succeeding Soeharto, Habibie’s presidency ended when the Special Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) rejected his accountability report. Habibie refused to run as a presidential candidate for the 1999-2004 term.

Habibie assumed the presidency during a time of political upheaval. He took over a country facing a critical political and economic condition. Amid public skepticism, Habibie paved the way for Indonesia to become the democratic country it is today. He freed political prisoners, revoked the anti-subversion law, strengthened democratization and expanded political freedoms. He granted East Timor the freedom of self-determination.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo meets with third President B.J. Habibie at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on May 24, 2019. Besides congratulating Jokowi on the 2019 presidential election recapitulation victory, Habibie also reminded all parties to maintain unity.

The press freedom we enjoy today is also a legacy of President Habibie. President Habibie, through then-Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah, revoked the press publishing permit (SIUPP), which was a tool for the government to control the press during the New Order. The Press Law, which did not restrict the press, was enacted.

We mourn the passing of B.J. Habibie. The Latin proverb “de mortuis nil nisi bene” means “of the dead, say nothing but good”. When he left the presidency, Habibie also left politics. He chose to become a “father of the nation” who embraces all its children.

As President Jokowi said, President Habibie often visited him at the State Palace to give him direct input in private and not publicly, which could sometimes lead to political interpretations.

Leaving a national legacy is not determined by the length of a presidency. President Habibie set an example of how to wield power for the national interest. As American military officer Lewis Cass once said, “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”

B.J. Habibie is testimony of this, and has left a legacy for Indonesia. Farewell, Pak Habibie!