Facts About Sayuti Melik, the Figure Behind the Proclamation Text Whose Family is Now in the Spotlight

The name Sayuti Melik has resurfaced in public discussion following news about his son, Heru Baskoro (84), who is spending his old age in a simple rented house in Rawalumbu, Bekasi City. This situation has prompted many to recall the figure of Sayuti Melik, one of the key individuals who played a major role in the creation of the Indonesian Proclamation of Independence text. Beyond his service as the typist of the proclamation manuscript, Sayuti Melik had a life journey full of struggle. Born with the name Mohammad Ibnu Sayuti in Kadisobo, Rejodani, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, on 25 November 1908, he was the son of Abdul Mu’in, also known as Partoprawiro, and Sumilah. From a young age, Sayuti grew up in a family environment with a strong nationalist spirit. His father was known as a village head who dared to criticise the policies of the Dutch East Indies colonial government, which he considered detrimental to the people. Sayuti Melik began his education at the Ongko Loro School in Srowolan Village before continuing to a teacher training school in Solo. During his youth, he was known to have a great interest in literacy, enjoying reading books and newspapers and participating in various national discussions. His thinking was also influenced by figures such as K.H. Ahmad Dahlan and Haji Mohammad Misbach, who were active in the struggle for Indonesian independence. His involvement in various political activities brought him into conflict with the Dutch East Indies colonial government, and he was even arrested on suspicion of being involved in an underground political movement. His most historic role occurred on the eve of the proclamation of independence. At that time, he was at the residence of Admiral Tadashi Maeda along with several other movement figures as a representative of the youth group. After Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, and Ahmad Soebardjo drafted the proclamation text, Sayuti Melik was entrusted with typing the historic document using a typewriter. The text he typed was then read out by the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, on 17 August 1945.