DDHK.ORG - Former Minister of Information of the New Order era, Harmoko, died at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Central Jakarta, Sunday (4/7/2021) night. The news of the death of the former chairman of Golkar was obtained from the chairman of the Golkar faction in the MPR, Idris Laena.
Head of RSPAD Lt. Gen. Albertus Budi Sulistya when confirmed said the late Harmoko breathed his last at around 20.22 WIB. “Just [entered the ER]. So it's a matter of minutes. Immediately to the ER, there was a decrease in consciousness then we tried to take medical action. However, God had other plans. So it was very short in the ER,” he said, Sunday night.
During his lifetime, Harmoko was known as a former journalist who later had a political career under the auspices of Golkar. He had a career as a journalist for 23 years, since graduating from high school and starting work at the Merdeka daily in the early 1960s.
Subsequently, he moved to the Armed Forces daily in 1964. Only a year later, this man born in Nganjuk, East Java, moved again to the API daily which was known as the 'Pancasilais' media at that time.
At the same time, Harmoko also served as editor-in-chief of the Javanese-language magazine, Merdiko. Until finally in 1970, Harmoko together with Jahja Surjawinata, Tahar S Abiyasa, and Pansa Tampubolon published a newspaper based in Jakarta, Pos Kota.
In the course of his political career, Harmoko served as information minister for 3 periods in the Development Cabinet under the leadership of President Soeharto. Harmoko served in development cabinets IV, V, until partially VI or from 1983 to 1997.
During his tenure as Minister of Information, Harmoko was the originator of the Kelompencapir (Listeners, readers, and viewers) movement which was broadcast on national television, TVRI.
Harmoko's political career ended as chairman of the DPR/MPR which appointed Suharto as president in 1998. However, it was also Harmoko who whispered that Suharto would again run for president in 1998, and he also asked the New Order ruler to step down in May 1998. [Source: CNN Indonesia] [DDHKNews]
