Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy will preside over the funeral ceremony for the late Indonesian Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, on Tuesday.
“If there is no change, Mr Muhadjir Effendy will preside over the funeral ceremony,” Indonesian Press Council Deputy Head M Agung Dharmajaya stated at the Press Council Building here on Monday.
He noted that Azra’s coffin is expected to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday evening before 10 p.m. local time (UTC +7). After the completion of formalities, the coffin will be transported to Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN), where he had served as the university rector.
“This is the newest information. If there are changes on the arrival time or the transportation from the airport to the funeral home or the cemetery, we will inform you,” Dharmajaya said.
Meanwhile, the Press Council deputy head recalled Azra as a polite and modest person who could maintain his humbleness despite being renowned throughout the world.
He pointed out that Azra had received the title of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire from the United Kingdom in 2010 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, from the Japanese emperor in 2017.
Dharmajaya said that Azra’s deeds and humbleness sometimes made him and fellow Press Council members felt ashamed of themselves.
He added that Azra never demanded excessive facilities while serving as the Press Council chief and while travelling for business purposes. Azra also never demanded a business class seat and always asked to fly economy.
Azra died 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