27 Facts About Sujudi

Sujudi was an Indonesian physician and academic who became the country's Minister of Health from 1993 until 1998.

Sujudi was born on 9 September 1930 in Bogor as the seventh of twelve children.

Sujudi began his studies at the Taman Siswa elementary school in Bogor.

Sujudi initially stayed in Bogor and had to commute to Jakarta, but later moved to Jakarta after obtaining a scholarship from the Department of Health.

Sujudi finished his propaedeutics exam in 1952 and became an assistant lecturer in microbiology in 1954.

Sujudi returned to Indonesia in 1957 and continued studying medicine until he obtained a medical license in 1959.

Sujudi began to teach in UI's medical faculty immediately after obtaining his medical license.

Sujudi taught microbiology in the faculty and became the head of the faculty's microbiology section in 1966.

Sujudi sent most of his staff, including future rector Usman Chatib Warsa and researcher Pratiwi Sudarmono, to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan.

Seven years later, on 2 December 1972, Sujudi obtained a doctorate degree from UI after defending his thesis on the identification of different species of Nocardia.

Sujudi was appointed as a full professor in microbiology on 16 November 1974.

Sujudi was mostly favored to become the new rector due to his position as well as support from the entirety of UI, including the literature faculty.

Sujudi won the rector election, but the central government refused to confirm the election results.

An election for a new rector was held around December 1985, with Sujudi facing Padmo Wahjono from the law faculty.

Sujudi described the old campus in Salemba as being too cramped, with almost no room for lecturers.

Sujudi stated his contentment regarding the student rejection of the decree.

Sujudi's statement was widely publicized and became viewed as his opposition to government's policy.

In February 1989, Sujudi proposed his plans to transform UI into a research university.

Towards the end of his term as rector, Sujudi became more active in various organizations.

Sujudi held leading positions in academic organizations, such as the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Microbiologists and the education director of the Al-Azhar Foundation.

Sujudi was reluctant to take similar steps for tobacco, as he considered restricting sales of tobacco would have a negative effect on tax revenue and the livelihoods of women who sold cigarettes.

Sujudi remained active in organizations and companies after his retirement as health minister.

Sujudi became the president commissioner of pharmaceutical company Millenium Pharmacon Internasional and medical company Kosala Agung Metropolitan, as well as a member of the board of advisors of the Indonesian Humanitarian Committee and the day-to-day chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross Society.

On 23 June 2007, Sujudi died at the Pertamina Central Hospital in Jakarta at around 10.20am Prior to his death, Sujudi was about to gave a speech in an event held at the hospital when he suddenly fell unconscious to the ground due to a heart attack.

Sujudi was taken to the emergency room to receive medical treatment and died half an hour later.

Sujudi's body was laid at his residence in Cipayung, East Jakarta, before buried at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery the day after.

Sujudi was married to Faika Sujudi on 3 August 1963.