JAKARTA - From Adisutjipto Airport, an old Taft jeep drove towards a hotel on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman No.19, Yogyakarta. One of the founders of the Kompas newspaper, the late Jakob Oetama, sat in the front seat of the old car, which was not air-conditioned.
Arriving at their destination, a colleague of Jakob, Hermanu opened the car door to the left where his boss was sitting. Understandably, the door had been damaged for a while so it could not be opened from the inside.
Jakob then came down without any officers to greet him. No wonder, "who would have thought that a boss or an honored guest would only want to be driven by a worn and old car?" wrote Sindhunata, a senior journalist from Kompas telling the story of Jakob Oetama's simplicity. This article was published in Kompas on September 10.
One of the founders of Kompas, Jakob, is known for having a very simple personality. Sindhunata, who knew him well enough, said that Jakob's clothes were always the same in everyday life: a gray long-sleeved shirt and gray pseudo black pants.
The simplicity of this figure who was born in Jowahan Village near Borobudur Temple is inherent in his subconscious. For Jakob, wealth seems futile because he can never really enjoy it.
"Meanwhile, simplicity is a treasure, which always gives him inspiration, enthusiasm, and creation. Indeed, the wealth that now belongs to him is not his life target, but the fruit that flows from his simplicity" wrote Sindhunata.
In the eyes of the charactersYesterday, the public was saddened by the death of one of the Indonesian press figures, Jakob Oetama. The deceased breathed his last at Mitra Keluarga Kelapa Gading Hospital at 13.05 WIB at the age of 88 years.
Condolences flowed profusely, not even a few figures expressed their sense of loss. President Joko Widodo for example, he remembers Jakob as a journalist who has high critical power.
"The deceased was a true journalist, had high critical power, who was conveyed in subtle and polite language," said Jokowi via his official Twitter account yesterday. He felt lost at the departure of a person who was not only a press figure or businessman, but also a national figure.
Also mourn the passing of Mr. Jakob Oetama, a press figure, founder and leader of Kompas Daily, today at the age of 88. The deceased was a true journalist, had high critical power, who was conveyed in subtle and polite language. Goodbye Mr Jakob Oetama. pic.twitter.com/wpFrlCLBOg
- Joko Widodo (@jokowi) September 9, 2020
Behind the greatness of Jakob's figure, many figures acknowledge him as a simple person. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, for example, for him, the deceased was a simple figure who contributed to the advancement of the press and media.
"The deceased is a simple figure who was very instrumental in the progress of the press and national media. A senior Indonesian journalist figure who successfully founded the Kompas Gramedia Group with various business lines," said Airlangga via his Instagram account.
Apart from Airlangga, the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa has similar memories. As quoted by Berita Satu, he said he knew Jakob as a journalist who was smart, humanist, and simple.
"I am sure that all members of the Indonesian press know very well who Jakob Oetama is. Even what he has fought for and achieved has inspired young Indonesian journalists, ”said Khofifah.
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