Minister Siti Nurbaya Participates in Picking Up Sarwono Kusumaatmadja’s Body

Jakarta –

The Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), Siti Nurbaya, took part in picking up the bodies of ministers from President Soeharto’s era, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and delivered to the funeral home. Siti said Sarwono was an irreplaceable figure.

“Even though in our hearts we know that he may be irreplaceable, yes, I think bureaucratic jobs will be carried out smoothly,” Siti Nurbaya told reporters at the funeral home, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Saturday (27/5/2023).

Siti admits that she has lost the figure of Sarwono. He said the bureaucracy at the Ministry of Environment would continue even though he lost Sarwono as Chairman of the Advisory Council on Climate Change Control.

“Basically, if work in the bureaucracy must be handled, there are no officials, the work must go on and we will pool all the efforts we have to overcome it together. I think Pak Sarwono also has a lot of cadres and is quite good,” he said.

Siti thanked all those who helped return Sarwono’s body smoothly. According to him, Sarwono was a senior who gave many examples.

“We grieve over the death of Mr. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, I think everyone knows that he is one of the best sons of the nation, he mentored many colleagues, he is a senior, he is also professional, set an example, full of knowledge, solutions, and a comfortable place to talk to in perspective,” he said.

First Secretary General of the Department of Marine Exploration and Fisheries (1999), Sapta Nirwandar, said Sarwono was a simple and honest person. He also felt lost and saddened by Sarwono’s departure.

“Incidentally, I have been with him three times, he is a simple figure, intelligent, visionary. Many of his works are very fundamental. For the three agencies, they have become exemplary examples and have also become programs that we are very proud of to date,” said Sapta to journalist.

During his lifetime, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja held a number of public positions, namely as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (1999-2001), State Minister for the Environment (1993-1998), State Minister for Administrative Reform (1988-1993), and member of the DPR-RI (1971-1988).

(haf/haf)