Idham Khalid declared "guru of nation"

Antara News, Monday, July 12, 2010 19:18 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The death of noted former Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) leader and Muslim politician, Dr.K.H.Idham Chalid, was well remembered by various Indonesian figures.

A.M Fatwa. (ANTARA News/
Fanny Octavianus)

Former deputy chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) AM Fatwa was among the figures who gave his opinions about the late Idham Chalid.

Speaking to reporters when paying his last respects at the deceased`s home before his burial in Cisarua, West Java, on Monday, Fatwa declared the late Idham Chalid as a guru of the nation who firmly held the philosophy of water in his political practices.

"I have known him since 1960s. He looks like water, the source of life."

"Like the flexible water, he is good at making self-adaptation but he remains to have his own stand point because water itself has extraordinary power," Fatwa explained about the late Idham Chalid.

The late Idham Khalid also had wise views in practicing politics, he said.

After being laid in state at his residence in Cipete, South Jakarta, from Sunday to Monday morning, late Idham Khalid`s body was buried at the family cemetery inside the Darul Qur`an Islamic Boarding School`s complex in Cisarua, West Java, on Monday afternoon.

His burial at the school`s complex had met his own choice, Head of the Darul Qur`an Islamic Boarding School Hasanudin said.

"He had ever stated his will to be buried at the compound of this boarding school," he said.

Idham Chalid, second deputy prime minister in former President Soekarno`s administration, passed away at the age of 88 at 08.00 a.m. on Sunday after suffering ailment in the past 10 years.

The Darul Qur`an Islamic Boarding School itself was founded by the former Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader for orphans in 1969.

Before the deceased was brought to the Islamic boarding school, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also paid his last respects at the late Idham Chalid`s home in South Jakarta.

In his remarks, the head of state said Idham Chalid was a great national figure with equally great ideas.

Indonesia had lost one of its best sons."We know him as a great figure with equally great ideas who has made tremendous contributions to the state and nation," he said.

Born in Setui, South Kalimantan, on August 27, 1922, Idham Chalid was survived by a wife, children and grandchildren.

During his life, besides ever leading NU from 1956 to 1984, he was also chairman of MPR/DPR from 1972 to 1977.

The late Idham Chalid was also known as the founder of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP). During the Soekarno era, he served as deputy prime minister twice.

He continued to serve the country under Soeharto by holding several ministerial posts, and chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA).

The late Idham Chalid was also known as a polyglot with fluent Arabic, English, Dutch, and Japanese languages. His honorary doctorate degree was given by prestigious Al-Azhar University.

A farewell prayer: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (second right), Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Said Aqil Siradj (right), cleric Zainuddin MZ (second left) and relatives of late Idham Chalid pray for the deceased in Darul Maarif, Cipete, South Jakarta, on Monday. Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf

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