When the late Jakob Oetama responded to the news about the offer to become a minister … Page all

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Being a journalist is the way of life chosen by the founder of Kompas Gramedia, Jakob Oetama.

Although the second president of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto, once heard an offer to become a minister, Jakob prefers to pursue his profession as a journalist and start Kompas Gramedia, the company he founded with PK Ojong.

Reporting from Tribunnews.com, Jakob straightened out the news of the offer when he spoke on a talk show titled “Jakob Oetama The Living Legend” at the Santika Hotel, Jakarta, on November 28, 2011.

Read also: DPR Banggar President: Jakob Oetama is a source of water that fertilizes Indonesia

Initially, Jakob mimicked the question Ojong had asked him several years ago.

“They asked me, do you want to or not? Will Santer become a minister of information?” imitates Jacob.

However, he only smiled widely at his best friend’s question.

He admitted that until then he had never received an offer from the president, nicknamed “General Smilling”, to fill the executive position in the cabinet he had formed.

“The offer does not exist,” he said.

However, Jakob stressed that even if there was an offer to sit in the ministerial seat, he would decline the opportunity.

“This way of my life (journalists),” he said.

Also read: Deputy Minister of Religion: Jakob Oetama Figure of a legend of the independent press

Jakob died at Mitra Keluarga Kelapa Gading Hospital in North Jakarta on Wednesday (9/9/2020). He died at the age of 88.

The plan is for Jakob’s body to be buried in the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery (TMP) in South Jakarta on Thursday (10/9/2020).

During his lifetime, Jakob received several awards, including a Doctor (HC) from Gajah Mada University and a Doctor (HC) in journalism from Sebelas Maret University.

Additionally, Jakob has also received a UNESCO Communication Award (2015), an Achievement in the Business Leadership Category from the Tahir Foundation (2015), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Science Alumni Association. of communication and advertising of the UGM (2017).

This article was previously published on Tribunnews.com under the title “Jakob Oetama Was Elected Minister in the Soeharto Era.”