REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Deep condolence surrounded the family of Republika and Republika Online. Our senior journalist, Damanhuri Zuhri, died on Monday (Jan 2) at 4:20 pm. He breathed his last in the hospital after being treated since Thursday (December 29, 2016).

"Goodbye, KH Damanhuri Zuhri. He is a teacher, a senior and a friend who was always been humble. He is a true journalist. We wish for a place on Heaven to him. Goodbye, Kang. We will always miss you," said the Vice Assistant Managing Director of Republika, Heri Ruslan, commemorating the figure of Daman.

The funeral was conducted in the family cemetery, not far from his house at Kampung Tulang Kuning, Parung, Bogor. Crews of Republika condolences in deep sorrow over the departure of the deceased.

Daman was recorded as an alumnus of Gontor Modern Boarding School, Ponorogo, East Java. He was also the best alumnus of the Institute of Islamic Education in Saudi Arabia. He is a journalist with good social competences.

Some leaders attended the funeral, among others the Minister of Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. He did a prayer for Daman and expressed condolences to the family and colleagues.

"How long he was in the hospital? Hopefully, he got ‘khusnul khatimah’," said the Minister to the family.

Lukman claimed to have a special impression on Daman. He knew him when they were studying at Gontor. Daman was his senior in the boarding school. They were become closer when they live in Jakarta.

"I come to his funeral because he was close enough to me. He was my senior, a year above me.  We met in Jakarta, we came from the same hometown. (We became closer) especially after he worked at Republika," said him.

As a journalist, Daman had many experiences. The Chief Editor of Tempo Newspaper, Budi Setyarso, said that Daman became his senior in Republika in the mid of 1996 to 2001. He was ever been presidential journalist in the reformation era. At that time, it was very prestigious.

"There used to be a strict selection factor. Other than awe, he used to be respectful and has a great level of sacrifice to be a presidential journalist. He had to get up early and wear special clothes as well," he said.

The Chief Editor of Republika in 2003-2005, Asro Kamal Rokan, uncovered why Daman was assigned to be a presidential journalist. He was considered to fully understand the ideological and political attitudes of Republika. He also had the ability do a great lobby and easy to keep relations with others.

"He worked for a long time. He is humble. He is good and trustworthy," said Asro who had become a Superior General of LKBN Antara between the periods of 2005-2007.

Daman also had a close relationship to the ulama. Asro remembered how Daman was being a 'reminder' for Republika editorship. He often reminded us to stay on the line of Republika. He also Republika connected Republika with Muslim communities.

CEO of Tirto.id, Sapto Anggoro, said Daman was a man of knowledge who did not want to show it. He never refused to do a task which could be in contrary to his thought as an alumnus of a leading Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, such as covering the activities of prostitution in Parung, Bogor, West Java.

"He was known as a cleric, once I assigned him to do an interview with Yasser Arafat (Former Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization) because he had good knowledge on politics and mastered good Arabic language," he said.

Being absent on the funeral, the Vice Chairman of the Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, expressed condolences on the departure of Daman. According to the politician, Daman was a good example of the alumni of Gontor Modern Islamic Boarding School.

Hidayat explained that Daman was his junior, five year after him. He met him while studying at Gontor. "I feel very close to him, and so do him," said Hidayat Nur Wahid when being contacted on Monday (Jan 2).

For Hidayat, Daman has a distinctive style of thinking. He was good knowledge on Islamic issues and Muslims’s aspirations. By his career as a journalist, Daman highlighted the importance of Islamic brotherhood and the role of boarding schools for the nation's progress.

"He continued the struggle of Pak Ikhwanul Kiram (former chief editor of Republika)," said Hidayat.

So long, Kang Daman! May Allah SWT grant you jannah. Aamiin...

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