Who Is Sabam Sirait, The PDIP Senior Politician Who Died Of Lung Disease

JAKARTA - Senior PDI-P politician Sabam Sirait passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. Sabam was reported to have suffered from a lung disease for the past two months. Sabam's passing leaves deep sorrow for the many politicians who learned from him. Who really is Sabam Sirait? The following is the profile of Sabam Sirait.

One of the deepest condolences was conveyed by fellow PDI-P politician Rahmad Handoyo. He admitted that he had lost a senior figure as well as the founder of the PDI-P.

"Of course we lose a figure of his caliber, a nationalist figure, a national figure who continues to provide an experience related to nationalism," said Rahmad, citing a VOI article entitled Sabam Sirait Dies, PDIP Politician: We Lost a Role Model.

Another PDI-P politician, Said Abdullah, also expressed his condolences for the passing of Sabam Sirait. Said said that Sabam was a role model for his juniors in the party bearing the bull symbol. Sabam has a golden ink on the journey of PDIP to become the number one political party in Indonesia.

Sabam Sirait is the eldest of three children. He was born to FH Sirait, one of the founders of the Indonesian Christian Party (Parkindo) and Julia Sibuea.

Sabam Sirait is married to Sondang Sidabutar, a doctor who graduated from the University of North Sumatra (USU). From the marriage of Sabam and Sondang, both of them have four children.

Sabam Sirait has served as a DPD Member since January 15 2018, replacing AM Fatwa, who died in December 2017. Sabam Sirait has a son who is also a PDI-P politician and Member of the Indonesian Parliament, Maruarar Sirait.

On October 1, 2019, Sabam became the oldest interim chairman of the MPR for the period 2019–2024. Citing the official website of the DPD RI, Sabam started his political career while studying at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI) in 1958.

He was interested, "Because he saw the void after Bung Karno's disbanded parties." active as chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Christian Student Movement (GMKI). In addition, Sabam is heavily involved in the activities of political organizations.

Prior to serving as Secretary General of the DPP PDI, he served as Secretary General of the DPP Parkindo. Before the 1982 elections,

Sabam became a member of the DPR-RI with the positions of Deputy Chairman of Commission II and Deputy Chair of the MPR-RI Working Body. In the 1987 general election, Sabam did not go overboard in setting targets for the PDI.

He said "The democratic party should be held in accordance with the law, overflowing, honest and fair, in accordance with Pancasila democracy."

A number of positions that have been held by Sabam are; Administrative Officer at PSKD High School in Jakarta (1957–1958), Employee of the State Administration (LAN) in Jakarta (1958–1960), Member of the DPR GR/MPRS (1967–1971), Deputy Chairperson of the Working Body of the DPR GR/MPRS (1971–1970). 1973), Member of the Indonesian Parliament from the PDI Faction (1973–1977), Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDI Faction (1977–1982), Member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) (1983–1988), Member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) (1988–1992) , Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDI Faction (Vice Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives) (1992–1997), and Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDI-P Faction (1999–2004).

Sabam Sirait is also one of the politicians who support Palestine. In 2010, Sabam Sirait participated in a peaceful demonstration organized by PKS in the Monas courtyard to express support for Palestine.

Sabam is a member of the Palestine Support Caucus. He delivered an oration by inviting PDI-P cadres to reject the Israeli plan to demolish the Al Aqhsa Mosque at that time.

"I propose that DPRD members here please invite DPRD members from the PDI-P tomorrow to take action for Palestine," said Sabam, quoted from Kompas.

At that time, Sabam also proposed naming Palestine for one of the streets in Jakarta. Sabam argues that support for Palestine must continue to be called for to seek peace.

"Palestine does not yet have national sovereignty. Israel wants to build a fence so that Palestine cannot enter it. If we are free and active, our government must prove it," he added.

In 2015, Sabam Sirait was awarded as the Father of National Democracy. The award was given on the basis of Sabam's struggle in upholding democracy in Indonesia. Sabam is known for going a long way to uphold democracy in the country.

To quote Okezone, Sabam is a figure who left a long trail of experience and ensured that politics must start from ideological beliefs. Sabam is also considered to have taught that politics is not only a tool to achieve a seat of power, but also a medium of struggle.

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