Malang campus buildings to be named after RI presidents

Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University in Malang, East Java, plans to name its campus buildings after former Indonesian presidents — from Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, to fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"We started by naming our technology building after B.J. Habibie, Indonesia's third president," university rector Imam Suprayogo said Friday as quoted by antaranews.com.

Imam added that the campus library had taken the name of the fourth president, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, while the rectorate building has been named Sukarno.

He added that the Social and Political Sciences building, which would be officiated next month, would be named after Megawati.

Imam said the university management had met Megawati and she had agreed with the plan.

"Ibu Mega is also scheduled to come here to officially open the building," he said.

According to Imam, the name of the second president, Soeharto, would be given to the meeting hall.

"We planned to name our meeting hall after Soeharto, but until today we have been unable to meet any members of Soeharto's family to discuss the plan," he added.

Imam said the use of the names was meant to encourage students to appreciate the nation's former leaders.