The donation was handed over symbolically on Monday by Akidi's family doctor, Hardi Darmawan, to South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Eko Indra Heri.

Eko said the aid would be used to provide free oxygen supplies and medicines for residents, incentives for medical workers and to construct more isolation centers for coronavirus patients.

He said the South Sumatra administration would set up a team to ensure the aid could be distributed properly and to assess other needs of residents affected by the pandemic.

"I hope [the aid] can help South Sumatra to recover from the pandemic," Eko said on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

South Sumatra governor Herman Deru, who personally attended the handover ceremony, has expressed his appreciation for the donation.

"We are proud that the family members of the late Akidi Tio could contribute in providing aid for COVID-19 handling in South Sumatra, especially since the donation is very large," Herman said.

He went on to say that he hoped that what the Akidi family had done could motivate the people of South Sumatra to work together in the fight against COVID-19.

According to Hardi, Akidi was a businessman from Langsa, East Aceh, who later moved to South Sumatra's provincial capital of Palembang. During his lifetime, Akidi worked in construction and container industries.

He explained that Akidi's family had been regularly helping people affected by COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, particularly COVID-19 patients in self-isolation.

Hardi said he was surprised when one of Akidi's children asked him to hand over the significant donation to the provincial administration, but added that the late businessman was known as a philanthropist and often told his children to also help other people.

"He always told his seven children, all of whom are also entrepreneurs, to always help those in need," Hardi said. (nal)