Mochtar Pabottingi, National and Democracy Thinker, Passes Away

"He was never bought by power, neither during the New Order nor during the post-Reformation era," said former KPK deputy chairman Laode M Syarief when remembering Mochtar Pabottingi who died, Sunday (4/6/2023).

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

LIPI Researcher Mochtar Pabottingi

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Writer and thinker nationality and democracy, Mochtar Pabottingi, died at the age of 77 years. The man who was born in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, is not only known for his ideas about national politics, but also for being honest, brave, upright, and never "buyed" by power.

Mochtar passed away on Sunday (4/6/2023) at 00.30 at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta. The body is being laid in state at the funeral home in Kayu Putih, Pulo Gadung District, East Jakarta. On the same day, he will be buried at the Penggilingan Layur Public Cemetery in East Jakarta.

During his lifetime, the deceased poured out his ideas about democracy and politics. One of his ideas was contained in an article entitled "Creating a Nation of Creators" which was published in the daily Kompas on August 12, 1975. After 48 years, his work entitled "Call of Longing" was also published in the daily Kompas < /i> in March 2023. The article contains the phenomenon of the majority of the nation being lulled into the rejuvenation of Indonesia's Luhur Aspirations which turns out to be nothing more than a manipulation of longing.

Also read: Call of Longing

His works are also widely known and read by many circles. A collection of Mochtar's poems entitled The Jungle of Shadows was published by Kompas in 2003, one of them. There is also a novel entitled Birds of Cakrawala which was released by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama in 2013.

YOSEPHA DEBRINA RATIH PUSPARISA

Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD offered his prayers for the late Professor Mochtar Pabottingi, in Kayu Putih, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta on Sunday (4/6/2023). Mochtar was known as an author and researcher on politics, nationality, and democracy.

His departure has left a deep wound for a number of national figures. One of them is the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security, Mahfud MD. He personally attended the mourning house to offer his final farewell greetings.

Mahfud assessed that Mochtar was a highly qualified Professor of Political Science. Because, he has many students, although not all of them become students. Many of his quality works are widely known. "(Mochtar) gives more advice than lectures, and his advice contains very deep wisdom," said Mahfud at the funeral home.

Furthermore, Mochtar, who is also a senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), is known for being honest, brave, and "straightforward". He is also known for being polite in his speech, gentle, and even poetic. In Mahfud's memory, Mochtar never berated or insulted anyone.

Not bought by power

Besides Mahfud, former Vice Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Laode M Syarif also mourned the passing of Mochtar. He remembered Mochtar as a consistent and integrity researcher, scientist, and writer. "He was never bought by power, both during the New Order or after the Reform era," Laode said.

He has never been bought by power, both during the New Order era and in the era after the Reform.

He remembered when the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) revised the KPK Law, Mochtar always went to the KPK. Mochtar is one of the "elderly statesmen" who came to the Presidential Palace to request President Joko Widodo issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) and cancel the revision of the KPK Law.

"In short, he was a fighter for democracy and anti-corruption who is difficult to replace. Not many people know, he also often writes poetry," he said.

Also read: Where Are We Independent

According to Laode, the character, personality, and struggle in upholding democracy made his alma maters, Universitas Hasanuddin and Universitas Gadjah Mada, lose exemplary alumni.

Before passing away, Mochtar was treated at Lantara hospital after suffering from a heart attack during last year's Eid al-Fitr, precisely on Saturday (22/4/2023). "It seems that from the heart attack, there were complications in his lungs," said Mochtar's second son, Mohamad Yogaswara.

YOSEPHA DEBRINA RATIH PUSPARISA

Mochtar Pabottingi's political expert wife, Nahdia Julihar, received a number of condolences from guests at the funeral home in Kayu Putih, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, on Sunday (4/6/2023). Since 8:30 a.m., several guests and flower arrangements have continued to arrive.

He was treated at EMC Hospital in East Jakarta for three weeks. After that, Mochtar was transferred to RSPAD Gatot Subroto. Mochtar passed away in an unconscious state.

Although Mahfud did not accompany him to his final resting place, he said that Mochtar appeared calm in his final moments until he took his last breath.