Indonesia's Press Council chief dies at Serdang Hospital

Indonesian Press Council chief Prof Azyumardi Azra, 67, died around noon today while undergoing treatment in Serdang Hospital.

When contacted, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, confirmed Azyumardi’s death, a day after his initial scheduled appearance to speak at a forum hosted by the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim).

“He died at around 12pm… The embassy is now assisting with the funeral arrangements,” Hermono told Malaysiakini.

The scheduled event by Abim also featured PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as a keynote speaker.

It is understood that Azyumardi’s wife is present at the hospital today where he was admitted on Friday upon arrival from Jakarta.

It was previously reported that Azyumardi, who tested positive for Covid-19, suffered breathing complications while on board his flight and was subsequently treated at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Born in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatera, the former Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University rector was credited as a prominent public intellectual and Muslim scholar.

With an initial career as a journalist, Azyumardi, who led the press council since May this year, was also a former board member of various international organisations including the UN Democracy Fund.

In immediate reactions, the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia and Malaysia’s Gerakan Media Merdeka mourned Azyumardi’s passing as a loss to the journalism fraternity.

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