Why Former Indonesian Minister Mohammad Natsir Refused a Luxury Car Gift from the Saudi King
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Receiving a luxury car as a gift from a king is certainly the dream of many people. Mohammad Natsir, however, made a different decision.
In 1980, the former Minister of Information and Minister of Defence received the King Faisal International Prize (Faisal Award) from the Saudi Arabian Kingdom in recognition of his services to the Islamic world. As a mark of respect, King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia also wished to present him with a luxury car befitting his use in Jakarta.
Rather than accepting the gift, Natsir politely declined it. He requested that the assistance be redirected towards a more useful purpose.
“If you wish to help, please help Indonesian students continue their studies in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The request was by no means a spontaneous gesture. Natsir had long been known as a figure who lived simply despite having once held the highest positions in government. He had even lived in a small rented house.
His children recounted the story in the book Natsir: Politik Santun di antara Dua Rezim (Natsir: Courteous Politics between Two Regimes), published in 2016.
“The family lived a ‘nomadic life’, moving from one rented place to another, from a pavilion on Jl. Surabaya to a small tenement house on Jl. Juana behind Jl. Blora in Central Jakarta. That house consisted of one bedroom, a small sitting room, and a dining room that doubled as a kitchen.”
This modest life came about after Natsir became involved in the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) movement. The government of Soekarno regarded him as a rebel, and he was consequently detained.
While he was behind bars, his family moved from one rented house to another. Even after his release in 1966, Natsir still did not own a home of his own and continued to live in rented accommodation.
When he finally had the opportunity to buy a house, circumstances were far from easy. He did not have enough money and had to borrow funds from a number of friends. The loan was then repaid in instalments over several years until it was settled. The house was located at Jalan Jawa No. 46, now known as Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto, Jakarta.
Even during his time in office, his appearance was far from that of an elite official. He was known for wearing a patched suit, not owning a private car, and living in a house far from luxurious.
For Natsir, office was never a means of accumulating wealth. He chose to live modestly and held firmly to a principle that his family continues to remember.
“Be content with what you have. Do not seek what is not there. Learn to be grateful for blessings,” said the man born in 1908.
It is this principle that explains why he refused the luxury car gift from the Saudi Arabian Kingdom. In his eyes, the opportunity to help Indonesian students pursue their education was far more valuable than owning a luxury vehicle for himself.