Pratikno Remembers Rachmat Gobel at Seventh-Day Memorial Service
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno remembered the late Rachmat Gobel at a memorial marking seven days since his passing.
The ceremony was held at the late minister’s residence on Jalan Prof. Dr. Soepomo, South Jakarta, on Thursday (16 July).
Pratikno said he knew Rachmat Gobel well, adding that not only were the two of them close friends, but their children and grandchildren were friends as well.
“We met the late Rachmat Gobel on 20 May at the DPR building. We took photos together and talked about our grandchildren, who are friends,” Pratikno said.
Pratikno also recalled working alongside the late Rachmat Gobel in the cabinet during the first term of Indonesia’s seventh President, Jokowi.
He said Rachmat Gobel’s duties as Trade Minister at the time were far from easy.
Pratikno noted that the Trade Minister carried many responsibilities and duties that directly affected the wider public.
“It was by no means easy being Trade Minister. Rising oil prices, rising rice prices, rising chilli prices — all became problems for the Trade Minister. Falling exports became a problem for the Trade Minister,” he said.
Pratikno described the late Rachmat Gobel as someone who worked with great professionalism.
He said that throughout his life, the late minister held firmly to ethical integrity and to religious values.
Rachmat Gobel passed away in the early hours of Friday (10 July) at 03.20 WIB at Brawijaya Hospital, South Jakarta. He was 63 years old.
The NasDem politician had a background as both a businessman and a politician. In addition to holding key positions in parliament, Gobel was also Chief Commissioner at various PT Panasonic companies.
He also served as Trade Minister under President Joko Widodo from 2014 to 2015, before Thomas Trikasih Lembong, better known as Tom Lembong.
He was buried at the Kalibata National Heroes’ Cemetery (TMP) in South Jakarta on Friday (10 July) at around 14.30 WIB.
The funeral procession was conducted with military honours as a mark of the state’s respect for the late minister’s services to the nation.
The funeral ceremony proceeded solemnly and was led by Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Saan Mustopa. A number of family members, relatives and national figures attended to pay their final respects.