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Track and field figure, former minister Mohamad ‘Bob’ Hasan dies of cancer
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Mohamad 'Bob' Hasan (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
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ndonesian track and field figure Mohamad ‘Bob’ Hasan has died of lung cancer at the age of 89. He passed away on Tuesday morning at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, a spokesman said.
“Pak Bob has been receiving treatment at the hospital for the last three weeks. Before that, he had been treated in Thailand for the same illness,” Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) spokesman Hendri Firzani said on Tuesday.
Bob Hasan, who served as trade and industry minister in Soeharto’s New Order government, was initially diagnosed with bone cancer, but the illness spread to other parts of his body. Bob was the adopted son of General Gatot Subroto, deputy army chief under Soekarno, after whom the army hospital is named.
The funeral service is slated to be held at the Gatot Subroto family’s private cemetery complex in Ungaran, Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.
“We are now preparing a proper service for him without the presence of too many people given the pandemic situation,” Hendri said.
Bob Hasan has long been an influential figure in the country’s track and field. He has headed the PASI for more than four decades and is known for his huge contribution to the sport.
He implemented rules encouraging all athletes under his watch to prioritize saving and investing rather than spending the money earned for their achievements. He didn't hesitate to admonish an athlete and threaten to kick him out of the PASI if the latter decided to ignore his words.
