Says Buya Syafii Rejects Medical Offers To Jakarta From Megawati And Jokowi, Indonesian Church Fellowship: An Example For All Religious Leaders

YOGYAKARTA - The General Chairperson of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) Reverend Gomar Gultom assessed that the former chairman of PP Muhammadiyah Buya Syafii Maarif should be a role model for all religious leaders in Indonesia.

"He is very close to all circles and should be a role model for all religious leaders in Indonesia as a great nation and respects diversity," said PGI Chairperson Reverend Gomar Gultom in a written statement, Friday, May 27.

This was conveyed after visiting the Gede Kauman Mosque, where the body of Buya Syafii Maarif was buried, before being taken to the Kulon Progo cemetery in Yogyakarta.

"We all miss Buya Syafii. He is not only a pluralist and nationalist figure, but rather a teacher and father of the nation who contributed many ideas to educate the nation," he said.

According to him, the example of an Indonesian intellectual who is very simple and rejects various forms of facilities needs to be imitated by everyone.

Buya Syafii is known to have rejected offers of treatment in Jakarta, both from PDIP Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri and from President Jokowi.

The reason, Gomar continued, was because Buya Syafii felt more comfortable being treated at his own home, namely the PKU Muhammadyah Hospital in Yogyakarta. In fact, for his funeral, Buya made a will to be buried in the Muhammadiyah public cemetery in Kulon Progo.

"I paid my last respects as well as a form of togetherness and at the same time expressed my support for the Buya Maarif family and peace-loving Muslims," he said.

Reverend Gomar Gultom assesses the character, thoughts, and struggles of Prof. Ahmad Syafii Maarif is in line with the struggle of the churches in Indonesia for the progress and prosperity of the nation.

"I ask the President to invite the entire community to fly the flag at half-mast as a tribute to him," he said.