Adi Sasono - Antara

A prominent figure in Indonesia’s cooperative movement, Adi Sasono, passed away on Saturday at the Mayapada Hospital in Cilandak, South Jakarta. He was aged 73.

He served as the cooperatives minister under Indonesia’s third president, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, from May 1998 to October 1999 before being replaced by Zarkasih Nur.

Sasono was born in Pekalongan, Central Java on Feb. 16, 1943. He was married to Mala Maria and blessed with five children and 11 grandchildren.

He graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) after studying civil engineering.

He was known to be active in several organizations, including the Indonesian Cooperatives Council (Dekopin), the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) and other Islamic and economic organizations.

On his 70th birthday celebration in 2013, he launched a book entitled Menjadi Tuan di Negeri Sendiri (Becoming the Master in His Own Country).

The Economist magazine once called him “Robin Hood Van Java”, for his populist ideas and policies that often sided with the people.

The Far Eastern Economic Review magazine called him in 1998 “Indonesia’s Most Dangerous Man” because of the stance he took opposing the country’s conglomerates.

Popular

What Indonesia can learn from the Iran–Israel war

US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens

Govt imports over 1,500 dairy cows to boost milk production