Mahfud MD Intellectual World Values Losing Big Figure Rizal Ramli

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD during a visit to the house of the late Rizal Ramli. (Photo: Aris Nurjani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of Indonesia (Menpolhukam) Mahfud MD feels lost over the death of former Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Rizal Ramli.

"Pak Rizal Ramli has preceded us, we have to obey and of course we all feel lost," he said when met at the funeral home, Wednesday, January 3.

Mahfud said that he and Rizal Ramli had been friends for a long time and often traveled domestically and abroad together to disseminate ideas and ideas for the country.

"There is a time when things that are tactically operational can be different and we can support each other and criticize each other," he explained.

According to Mahfud, for almost 2 months he had not communicated with the late Rizal Ramli and he also felt the loss of Rizal Ramli's figure who was active in the world of activists, intellectuals and civil society movements.

"The intellectual world, movement, civil society is losing, losing a big figure now. But, we must be willing because it is a path that must be taken by everyone," he said.

As previously reported, senior economist Rizal Ramli died on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at RSCM Jakarta.

The man who was born in Padang, December 10, 1954, is known to be battling pancreatic cancer.

The deceased will be buried on Thursday, January 4, Bada Dzuhur at the Jeruk Purut TPU, Cilandak, South Jakarta.

Several figures were seen visiting Rizal Ramli's funeral home on Jalan Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, such as former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD to former Minister of SOEs SBY Sofyan Djalil came to mourn until this afternoon.