Therefore, he had always existed and survived until his last breathJakarta (ANTARA News)- Rosihan Anwar, who passed away on Thursday (April 14), was a humble senior journalist very much committed to press freedom, according to Deputy Chairman of the Judicial Commission Imam Anshori Saleh.
"I admired his modesty and his commitment to press freedom," Imam, former journalist of Media Indonesia, said here Friday.
Rosihan was also one of the very few pressmen who were loyal and loved the journalism world, without being tempted to be involved in practical politics, he said.
"Therefore, he had always existed and survived until his last breath," Imam stated.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s First Commission Mahfudz Siddiq (PKS Faction) saw Rosihan Anwar as a fighting journalist of all eras.
"He is a fighting journalist whose idealism has never fed away," he said.
"Amid the press and media industry progressiveness, which often bows to the business interest nowadays, we need to inherit Rosihan Anwar`s spirit and idealism," Mahfudz Siddiq said.
Chairman of the PDI-Struggle Faction Tjahjo Kumolo on a separate occasion, said the Indonesian press lost the figure of idealistic journalist who had been very dedicated to the Indonesian nation.
Tjahjo Kumolo said Rosihan Anwar who had been blessed with sharp thinking, had helped discuss various social problems and histories.
Rosihan died at the MMC Hospital on Thursday at 8.15 am local time after suffering from a heart problem.
He was born in Kubang Nan Dua, West Sumatra, on May 10, 1922.
The journalist of three eras began his journalistic career during the Dutch colonial era with the Asia Raya newspaper. He underwent bypass surgery at Harapan Kita cardiac hospital on March 24, 2011 and was allowed to leave the hospital on April 13.
He had led Siasat daily from 1947 to 1957, and Pedoman from 1948 to 1961. Rosihan was a co-founder of the Indonesian Journalists` Association (PWI) and was PWI chairman from 1968 to 1974.
The late senior journalist is survived by three children - Aida Fatia, Omar Luthfi and Naila.
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
