Hasjim Ning dies of heart failure
Hasjim Ning dies of heart failure
JAKARTA (JP): Masagoes Noer Mohammad Hasjim Ning, one of the
oldest and most successful indigenous entrepreneurs, died here
yesterday afternoon at the age of 79.
According to his relatives, the soldier-turned-businessman
died of heart and kidney diseases that he had been fighting for
the last six months.
He is survived by his third wife, Ratna Maida, and his five
children.
Hasjim Ning, who was born in Padang, West Sumatra, in 1916, is
widely known for his pioneering efforts of developing the
Indonesian automotive industry in the 1950's.
For the important role in the economic sector, he was once
dubbed the "Henry Ford of Indonesia" after the American
automobile king.
Between 1979 and 1982 Hasjim served as the head of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His last private
position was the president commissioner of Indomobil Group, the
second largest automotive company in Indonesia after Astra
International.
He was also the president commissioner of Lippo Group, a
conglomerate mostly engaging in property and banking businesses.
He was an army captain after Indonesian independence in 1945
and retired from service as a lieutenant colonel five years
later.
Hasjim set up his own first business in 1951 by taking over
the management of PT. Indonesia Service Company (ISC), a state-
owned assembling company. With the help of President Sukarno, he
managed to make the company one of the largest car assembling
companies in Indonesia at that time.
Later this company was privatized and taken over by Hasjim
Ning and his associates.
In the 1960's, Hasjim turned to the banking business. He
bought Bank Perniagaan Indonesia (BPI) and became the majority
shareholder of Central Commercial Bank (CCB), which he bought
from businessman Syarief Gani.
In 1982, he sold 49 percent of BPI's shares to Mochtar Riady,
an Indonesian entrepreneur of Chinese descent who managed to
develop Bank Central Asia into the largest bank in the country.
Later they changed the name of BPI into Lippobank, which is
currently one of the largest bank in the country. (13)
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