The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

2019 • 04 38 Global News T zu Chi Indonesia veteran volunteer, Mr Eka Tjipta Widjaja, the founder of Sinar Mas Group and one of Indonesia’s ten wealthiest individuals, passed away on January 26, 2019, at the age of 98. He was actively involved in philanthropy in his lifetime and had wholeheartedly supported Tzu Chi’s missions. Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers held a memorial service in remembrance of MrWidjaja at the Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia onMarch 3, 2019.Atotal of 638 attendees, including employees of the Sinar Mas Group, Indonesian businessmen and Tzu Chi volunteers, arrived at the ceremony to pay their respects. The children of the late Mr Widjaja paid tribute to their father’s legacy by sharing their memories of their father in a light-hearted and insightful session. Mr Widjaja’s eldest son, Teguh Ganda Widjaja, recounted his late father’s involvement in Tzu Chi’s disaster relief efforts following the Jakarta floods in 2002. He said, “My father went on to heed Tzu Chi’s call to contribute to the disaster relief efforts, although our family and his doctor advised him against it. The disaster site was strewn with debris and gave off an unpleasant stench, yet, he participated wholeheartedly in the clean-up work, initiated donation drives and even roped in other local entrepreneurs to join the relief efforts.” Mr Widjaja was aged 80 then and had undergone three major operations, but he was determined to do his part for the disaster victims after witnessing the extent of the damage. Mr Widjaja leased out an office space in Jakarta’s Mangga Dua Mall measuring 1,000 m 2 to Tzu Chi Indonesia for a 14-year period to accommodate its local operations, as well as the Indonesian division of Da Ai TV. When Tzu Chi lacked manpower in a mission to distribute 80,000 tonnes of rice to 4 million impoverished families in Indonesia, Mr Widjaja gathered 7,000 employees from Sinar Mas Group to participate in the distribution. The CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Liu Su Mei, lamented the regrettable loss of Mr Widjaja, saying, “Mr Widjaja’s exemplary character and integrity are worthy of our admiration. We, the younger generation, should emulate and immortalize his noble spirit.” Indonesia 2019.03.03 Paying Tribute to Mr Eka Tjipta Widjaja