JAKARTA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrived here yesterday to represent Malaysia in paying her last respects to former Indonesian president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (pic) or BJ Habibie who died on Wednesday.
Dr Wan Azizah arrived in a special aircraft at the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport at 11.45am (12.45pm Malaysian time). She was accompanied by Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
The delegation was welcomed by the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zainal Abidin Bakar. Habibie died at 6.05pm on Wednesday at the Soebroto Gatot Armed Forces Hospital due to various health complications. He was 83.
Dr Wan Azizah will pay her last respects to Habibie at his residence in Patra Kuningan and attend the funeral at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta. Habibie was the third president of Indonesia, taking over from President Suharto and held the post from May 21, 1998 to Oct 20, 1999.
In March last year, Habibie underwent intensive treatment in Munich due to various complications related to the heart and lungs, among others. Habibie will be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery at 1pm after the Zohor prayers, next to the grave of his wife, Hasri Ainun Besari or Ainun Habibie, who died on May 22, 2010. – Bernama
