Government honors Tong Djoe
Government honors Tong Djoe
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Ali Alatas (right) yesterday
presented the Jasa Pratama medal to business tycoon Tong Djoe
(left) for meritorious service to the country, including help to
normalize diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China.
"Tong Djoe is an example of an Indonesia who, without thinking
of rank or position, has contributed much to the nation," Alatas
said during the presentation ceremony at the foreign ministry
building here.
"He has shown that in any field of occupation, anybody can
make a great contribution to the nation if they possess a strong
sense of commitment and national pride," Alatas added.
Among Tong Djoe's notable contributions to the state are his
role in the growth of the state shipping company Pelni and state
oil company Pertamina.
Alatas also noted that in the foreign ministry in particular,
Tong Djoe is noted for his role in normalizing relations between
Jakarta and Beijing in 1990 after they had remained frozen for 23
years.
Born in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, on Sept. 2, 1926,
Tong Djoe is a renowned and successful entrepreneur. He has lived
abroad for most of the past few years.
The award comes at a time when many Indonesians of Chinese
descent are facing an uncertain future after being targeted by
violent mobs during the May riots.
An obviously proud Tong Djoe was brimming with pleasure after
receiving the medal. "This means the government does not
disregard the people who contribute a lot to the country," he
remarked.
When asked by journalists to comment on the question of ethnic
relations in the country, he stressed the importance of building
more trust between different ethnic groups.
Business tycoon Mochtar Riyadi, who was present at the
ceremony, later told journalists that the presentation was timely
given the public debate on ethnic relations.
"The sins of one tycoon should not be used as an excuse to
bring suffering down upon the entire Chinese-Indonesian
community, it just isn't fair," he said. (01)