Moerdiono's Body Flown to Jakarta Today

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former minister/state secretary Moerdiono passed away at Singapore’s Gleneagles hospital at 7.40 pm local time Friday after being treated for a complicated combination of illnesses, informed sources said.      

The mortal remains of the New Order Government’s former minister will be flown from Singapore to Indonesia on Saturday. Henry Yosodiningrat, a lawyer of Moerdiono’s family, said on Friday night, Moerdiono’s body  was lying in state at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.

"His remains have been bathed and prayers have been offered for him at the Indonesia embassy," Henry said. Henry said  Moerdiono who was known to be close to former president Soeharto, would be buried at the Kalibata Heroes’ Cemetery on Saturday.

He said that according to plan, the body would be taken to the Kalibata Cemetery as soon as it had arrived in Indonesia, without being laid in state at his house. However, Henry was not sure at what time the body would arrive in Indonesia on Saturday.

Born on August 19, 1934 in Banyuwangi, East Java, Moerdiono was minister/state secretary for two terms in the Fifth and Sixth Development Cabinet (March 21 1988 - March 17, 1993 and March 17 1993 - March 16, 1998.