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)