Mar'ie Muhammad passed away last December, aged 77, after receiving hospital treatment for several weeks for pneumonia.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and the widow of Mar'ie, Ayu Resmayati, attended the inauguration on Thursday along with other prominent figures, such as Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo and former finance minister Chatib Basri.

Sri Mulyani, who almost burst into tears during her speech, said that Mar'ie, known as “Mr. Clean”, had a special place in the country as he always upheld the principles of integrity, loyalty and consistency—she claimed were rare values nowadays.

(Read also: Former finance minister famous as ‘Mr. Clean’ passes away at 77)

"[His name] has been immortalized through this building because his values are ingrained in the Finance Ministry, especially the Directorate General of Taxation. I know that he deeply cared for this institution," she said.

She hoped the building’s new name could inspire tax officers further in their duties to the nation.

Mar’ie, who was born in Surabaya, East Java, on April 3, 1939, served as long-time civil servant with the Finance Ministry before being appointed finance minister under former president Soeharto from 1993 to 1998.

During his leadership, Mar’ie endorsed a tight fiscal policy and numerous programs to promote budget efficiency to curb rampant corruption. (bbn)

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