Farmer dies three days after winning award

JAKARTA (JP): A farmer from North Sumatra, recently honored by President B.J. Habibie for his success in promoting the agricultural intensification program, collapsed and died on Monday at Gambir Railway Station, Central Jakarta.

Muhammad Syapei, 42, a resident of Lubuk Rotan village in Perbaungan district, Deli Serdang regency, is believed to have died from a heart attack.

The chief of the Deli Serdang agricultural office, Syafruddin Nasution, said Syapei collapsed on arrival at about 7 a.m. after spending his weekend in Bandung, West Java.

Syafruddin, who accompanied Syapei and other farmers during their visit to Java, said he was scheduled to return by boat to the North Sumatra capital of Medan on Monday afternoon.

"As soon as we arrived at the station, I left him to watch our luggage while I went to the restroom.

"I still saw him smoking, but seconds later he slid down slowly where he was standing."

The group immediately searched for medical assistance, but could not find any at the station.

"We finally took him to a clinic at the Pertamina building across the street. By the time we arrived there, the doctor pronounced him dead," Syafruddin said at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital where an autopsy was performed.

Syapei was one of the 13 farmers honored nationally in the 1998 intensification program.

Awards, consisting of a trophy, agricultural equipment and a saving accounts, were presented by Habibie in a special ceremony at the State Palace on Thursday.

Syafruddin said Syapei never complained of illness during the trip.

"He was so enthusiastic about this award. He was overjoyed to be one of the winners," he said. (ivy)