Ex-minister and composer Maladi dies at 89

Ex-minister and composer Maladi dies at 89

JAKARTA (JP): Renowned songwriter and former minister of
information, Maladi, died on Monday afternoon at about 3:45 p.m.
due to severe bronchial problems. He was 89.

He had been treated at Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta for
the past two weeks. He is survived by a wife and nine children.

Serving his time as a minister of information during the
administration of first Indonesian president Sukarno, Maladi had
a strong passion for music. Some of his well-known songs are Di
Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama (Under the Full Moon), Rangkaian Melati
(Jasmine Arrangement), Nyiur Hijau (the Green Palm Tree), Solo Di
Waktu Malam Hari (Surakarta in the Evening) and Di Sela-Sela
Rumput Hijau (In between the Green Grass).

He briefly served in the military during the independence
struggle between 1945 and 1949, retiring as a major.

Born in Matesih, Surakarta, on Aug. 31, 1912, Maladi was also
an ardent sports fan. He was a goalkeeper of the national soccer
team under pseudonyms Wakidjan or Suntiori and quite often took
up another job on soccer field as referee.

He chaired the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) between
1950 and 1959 and once held various executive positions in the
National Sports Committee (KONI).

His body was taken to his home on Jl. Gereja Theresia No. 9 in
Central Jakarta and will be buried at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in
South Jakarta on Tuesday. (edt/bby)