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PDI-P lawmaker passes away while being monitored for COVID-19
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Imam Suroso. Imam, 56, died seven days later at Kariadi Hospital in Semarang after been officially declared as “patient under surveillance” for COVID-19. (Courtesy of Instagram/@h.imamsuroso)
H
ouse of Representatives member Imam Suroso of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) passed away on Friday while being monitored for COVID-19.
Imam, 56, died at Kariadi Hospital in Semarang, Central Java. He was immediately buried in his hometown of Pati, Central Java, on the same day.
His cause of death was not reported, but Imam had been officially declared a "patient under surveillance" for COVID-19.
Imam had had a fever since March 18, according to PDI-P secretary at the House Bambang Wuryanto.
Imam participated in social activities, including gymnastics with residents of Saliyan village in Pati, and handed out masks and hand sanitizers at a local market on March 20.
Read also: House postpones COVID-19 rapid testing for lawmakers
He started having breathing troubles the next day and was taken to Kariadi Hospital.
Imam had served in the House of Representatives since 2009 and was a member of the Commission IX overseeing health care and manpower.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, a senior PDI-P politician, heard the news on Friday while attending the funeral of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s mother in Surakarta, also in Central Java.
“I ordered Central Java Health Office head Yulianto Prabowo to monitor Imam’s condition when I heard the news,” Ganjar said, adding that he considered Imam to be generous and humorous.
Another lawmaker, Imran of the Gerindra Party, also passed away on Friday at midnight. The 68-year-old politician died at Bahteramas General Hospital in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, as reported by Antara news agency.
Like Imam, his cause of death was not clear. However, reports from local outlets said that Imran die not die of COVID-19. (mfp)
