The president mentioned that the Late Taufiq Kiemas as a best politician and a consistent figure in fighting for democracy and a true statesman and nationalist.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led the funeral ceremony of Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly Taufiq Kiemas at the Kalibata Heroes` Cemetery in South Jakarta on Sunday.

"On behalf of the state and nation, we hereby present the services of the Late (Taufiq Kiemas) to the Motherland," the President in his capacity as the inspector of ceremony said when reading the `Apel Persada` (Motherland roll-call) text.

The funeral ceremony was also attended by state officials, retired state officials, politicians, national figures and thousands of other mourners.

The president also delivered a speech at a state ceremony organized as a form of appreciation of the state to the services and dedication of Taufiq Kiemas during his life.

The president mentioned that the Late Taufiq Kiemas as a best politician and a consistent figure in fighting for democracy and a true statesman and nationalist.

"The Late Taufiq has contributed a lot of services to the state and nation," he said.

Born in Jakarta on December 31, 1942, Taufiq Kiemas died of heart failure at the age of 70 at Singapore General Hospital at 7.05 pm local time or 6.05 pm Western Indonesia Time on Saturday.

Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono praised the Late Taufiq as a true statesman.

"The Late Taufiq Kiemas is a true statesman who continues to think for advancement of the nation based on the state ideology Pancasila (five principles), the 1945 Constitutions, the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI) and the Bhineka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity)," President Yudhoyono said on his Twitter account.

The president said that to respect the services of Taufiq, who is the husband of Indonesia`s former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, the people were requested to raise the flag at half-mast for two days.

"Let us pray for the Late Taufiq so that God Almighty would double His reward for his deeds, service and dedication to the nation," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013