JAKARTA – Today's history, 44 years ago, July 23, 1978, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie decided to return to build his homeland. The option to return to his homeland was made so that Habibie could focus on working as Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek).
Moreover, Habibie had been previously ordered by Suharto since 1974 to establish the Science and Technology Research Center (Puspiptek). Habibie's return was greeted with enthusiasm by all the people of Indonesia.
Habibie's professional career in the flashy aerospace industry. Such a narrative developed when Habibie began his career as a research assistant at the RWTH Aachen University Lightweight Construction Institute. Habibie was not easily satisfied.
He also accepted the challenge of working as Vice President Director of Technology from Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB). This attraction made many people smitten by Habibie's expertise. President Soeharto especially. He heard about Habibie's achievements from the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1986).
Suharto did not want to procrastinate. Between him and Habibie have known each other for a long time. Even Habibie is no stranger to Suharto. This is because Suharto had previously served in Pare-Pare as Commander of the Garuda Mataram Brigade.
Suharto's headquarters at that time was close to Habibie's house. Every day Suharto often stopped by Habibie's house and made friends with his parents. As a tactic, Suharto immediately sent Pertamina's Managing Director, Ibnu Sutowo, to Germany in 1973.
“At the end of 1973, Ibnu Sutowo from Pertamina visited West Germany and conveyed to Habibie a message from President Soeharto calling Habibie home. In 1974, Habibie returned to Jakarta and Suharto asked him to establish a local aircraft building industry.”
"From here, the IPTN (Nusantara Aircraft Industry) was born which is the center of what would later become Habibie's large royal complex from a high-tech BUMN, which includes aviation, ammunition, electronics, and shipbuilding," said historian MC Ricklefs in the book History of Indonesia. Modern 1200–2008 (2008).
Since then Habibie often goes back and forth. Sometimes in Germany. Sometimes also in Indonesia. All because Habibie has a lot of business in Germany. Especially for their children who are still in school. However, this does not mean that Habibie's work will be neglected. He is serious about doing a good job.
A few years later, Habibie was appointed Minister of Research and Technology in mid-March 1978. Habibie began to think about staying in Indonesia so that he could focus. July 23, 1978, Habibie and his family returned to Indonesia in full.
“A few months later, on Saturday, July 22, 1978, Habibie and Ainun brought their children back to Jakarta, because of the school holidays. Incidentally, the school holidays were very long, until September 4, 1978.”
“Therefore, the Habibie family can attend and attend the Commemoration of Indonesian Independence Day on Thursday, August 17, 1978, at the Merdeka Palace. Habibie started concentrating in Indonesia since 1978," concluded Jonar TH Situmorang in BJ Habibie's book: The Genius (2017).
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