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UGM honors business tycoon Tahir for philanthropic acts
Thank you: Gadjah Mada University rector Dwikorita Karnawati (right) grants an honorary doctorate in medicine to business tycoon Datoâ Sri Tahir (left) for his philanthropic contributions to public health
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Thank you: Gadjah Mada University rector Dwikorita Karnawati (right) grants an honorary doctorate in medicine to business tycoon Datoâ Sri Tahir (left) for his philanthropic contributions to public health.(Courtesy of Gadjah Mada University) (right) grants an honorary doctorate in medicine to business tycoon Datoâ Sri Tahir (left) for his philanthropic contributions to public health.(Courtesy of Gadjah Mada University)
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span class="inline inline-center">Thank you: Gadjah Mada University rector Dwikorita Karnawati (right) grants an honorary doctorate in medicine to business tycoon Dato' Sri Tahir (left) for his philanthropic contributions to public health.(Courtesy of Gadjah Mada University)
Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) awarded on Friday Dato' Sri Prof. Dr. Tahir the academic title of doctor honoris causa for his contributions to improving public health and education.
UGM rector Dwikorita Karnawati said that Tahir was the 23rd recipient of the degree, bestowed upon him at a ceremony to honor the businessman's philanthropic acts.
Other honorary recipients include founding fathers Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, leading education figure Ki Hajar Dewantara, Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono and renowned poet WS Rendra.
According to Dwikorita, Tahir embodies many of the university's own values, especially social entrepreneurship, which UGM adopted as one of its tenets last year.
'[Tahir's] talent of assessing risk and opportunity, as well as his courage and willingness to take chances, are what have shaped him into a pioneer for development, something we wish our own students will one day become,' she said during the ceremony at the UGM senate hall.
Tahir is ranked 10th on the Forbes list of the richest men in Indonesia, with an estimated net worth of US$2 billion. He owns the Mayapada Group, which has portfolios in property, banking and the medical sector.
Hardyanto Soebono, the chairman of the panel for the honorary nomination, said that Tahir had earned the degree for his role in funding the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, all of which were costly, high-priority items in health research circles.
He also supports the government's family planning scheme, and even pays for the treatment of poor cancer patients under 12 years of age, the UGM professor added.
Hardyanto further said Tahir's achievements were also evidenced by the many academic titles and positions he had received at both the national and international level.
During his acceptance speech, Tahir lamented Indonesia's lack of philanthropic practice, despite the potential in the health and education sectors.
Tahir expressed his gratitude for the award, saying it was a luxury considering his humble beginnings in Surabaya, East Java.
The philanthropist suggested that part of the reason why it was still hard to break into the philanthropy scene and find willing partners was due to politics and the inability to find sustainable methods of practice.
'Managing philanthropic acts is different from the sporadic urges of the Good Samaritan. It requires a sustained effort,' Tahir said on Friday.
Former president BJ Habibie, who was present at the ceremony, lent his voice to Tahir's cause in philanthropy, underlining the importance of high quality human resources.
'The future of a country relies on the quality, productivity, effectiveness and professionalism of its people. It is in our best interests to foster [excellence], whether in health, engineering or whatnot,' Habibie said on Friday.
In his speech, Habibie also lauded Tahir for the his modest upbringing. 'There is no one in this world who suddenly becomes a titan or a leader. The communities they live in are what shape the person,' he said.
