Former governor Ali Sadikin dies in Singapore

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 05/20/2008 8:54 PM | National

Former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin died in Singapore at 6.30 p.m. local time Tuesday, after five weeks of treatment at Singapore's Gleneagles Hospital.

His secretary Mia told Antara news agency that Ali Sadikin's body will be flown back to Indonesia. She didn't reveal when and where the burial will take place.

Ali Sadikin was born in Sumedang, West Java, on July 7, 1927. He was a navy lieutenant general until he was appointed by President Soekarno to be Jakarta's seventh governor in 1966.

Before being governor, he held several positions including Navy deputy chief, sea transportation minister and the maritime unit's coordinating minister.

Ali Sadikin was more popularly known by his Jakarta name, Bang Ali, while his wife, Nani Arnasih Sadikin, a dentist, was known as Mpok Nani. Nani died in February 1986, after struggling with
liver cancer for two years. Ali and Nani had four sons.

He coordinated many development projects in Jakarta including the building of Taman Ismail Marzuki, Ragunan Zoo, Proyek Senen, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Taman Ria Monas, Taman Ria Remaja, the satellite city in Pluit, North Jakarta, and the Betawi culture preservation project in Condet.

He was responsible for the controversial policy providing nightclubs with greater freedom, allowing gambling and the construction of Kramat Tunggak complex for prostitution.

He finished his term in 1977 and was replaced by Let. Gen. Tjokropranolo. He received a number of awards including the Philippines' Ramon Magsaysay.

After retiring, he was still concerned with development. Along with a number of military retirees and businessmen, he signed a petition against Soeharto in 1980 known as Petisi 50.(**)

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