REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government has declared three-day mourning from September 12 to 14, following the passing of former president BJ Habibie on Wednesday. The government also called on the people to hoist the Red and White flag at half-mast.

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno has released the instruction number B- 1010/M.Sesneg/Set/TU.00/09/2019 on the declaration of national three-day mourning. "To give the highest honor to the best 'son of the nation', Mr Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie who passed away on September 11, 2019 in Jakarta," Pratikno said.

Indonesia's third president passed away at 6.05 p.m. Wednesday at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Jakarta, Habibie's son Thareq Kemal Habibie said. He died at the age of 83 of heart failure.

The team of presidential doctors made its best efforts when Habibie was under its intensive care since September 1, Thareq said. Habibie led the country from May 1998 to October 1999. He is considered the pioneer of the Indonesian aviation industry and widely known as the country's Father of Technology.

The co-founder of state-owned aerospace firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Habibie will be buried at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta Thursday. The funeral ceremony will be led by President Joko Widodo.

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