REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended a function to mark the 80th birthday of former president Bacharuddin Jusuf (BJ) Habibie at his residence here on Saturday.

Congratulating Habibie on his 80th birthday, President Joko Widodo expressed the hope that he would continue to inspire the Indonesian nation.

The president said the Indonesian people still need a role model like Habibie.

"I congratulate Mr Professor BJ Habibie on his 80th birthday. May God give him good health," he said.

Also present at the function were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the wife of the country's fourth vice president, Karlina Umar Wirahadikusumah, and a number of national figures, including Jimly Asshidiqqie, Akbar Tandjung, Priyo Budi Santoso, Sohibul Iman and Fahri Hamzah.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed the hope that BJ Habibie would always enjoy good health so that he could contribute his thoughts to the Indonesian nation.

In a sign of expressing thanks to God, BJ Habibie cut a cone-shaped rice dish (tumpeng) and handed it over to President Joko Widodo.

He later presented a slice from his birthday's tumpeng to Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Mrs. Karlina Umar Wirahadikusumah.

Born in Parepare, South Sulawesi, on June 25, 1936, Habibie served as the country's 3rd president for one year and three months, replacing Soeharto, who had stepped down on May 21, 1998.

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