The late Indonesian Muslim scholar and chief of the Indonesian Press Council, Azyumardi Azra, was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, after the coffin arrived in Indonesia on Monday (September 19) evening.
Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy presided over the funeral ceremony for Azra. The late scholar is buried at grave no 426 at the cemetery’s block Z.
Officials attending the burial ceremony comprised former vice president Jusuf Kalla, Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Zainut Tauhid Saadi, National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Head Boy Rafli Amar, and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar.
After the burial ceremony, Effendy said he lost a great figure in his life and a good friend in the academic field, particularly as he and Azra both served as rectors in national universities and were active members of the Indonesian Association of Muslim Scholars (ICMI).
“His passing is a huge loss for all of us because of the intellectual treasure he developed was hugely meaningful for the nation, particularly in the social, cultural, and Islamic science fields,” Effendy said.
He said that while serving as the rector of Muhammadiyah University in Malang (UMM), he often exchanged ideas and thoughts on university and academic development with Azra, then the rector of Jakarta Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN).
The coordinating minister also lamented the busy schedule of both him and Azra, as the chief of the Indonesian Press Council, that cut short the time when they could meet and exchange ideas.
Azra breathed his last at the Serdang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia, on Sunday (September 18) at 12:30 p.m. local time (UTC +8). Azra passed away after being hospitalized due to health issues shortly after having landed in Malaysia to attend a conference hosted by the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) on Friday (September 16).
Source: Antara News