TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A large crowd gathered at the True love Monument of Habibie Ainun in Parepare, South Sulawesi on Wednesday night of September 11 after news of former president BJ Habibie’s passing was announced nationwide.

Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie passed away at the army hospital (RSPAD) Gatot Subroto in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 11.

According to one local resident of Parepare who gathered at the monument Sekar Ayu Eka, the third Indonesian president will truly remain as a role model and figure of inspiration for fellow countrymen, especially people of Parepare, a region where he was born.

“As a Parepare resident, we all share the loss of a figure we often call eyang Habibie,” said Eka to Tempo on Wednesday.

She recalled locals immediately packed the “true love monument Habibie Ainun” following the news of his death. This location is a known monument to remember the tight-knit relationship between Habibie and wife Ainun, who passed away years prior.

“The Parepare administration promises to realize the dreams of Pak Habibie upon establishing a museum at his city of birth,” she said.

Another local we interviewed, Ahmad, recalled Habibie as one of Indonesia’s best that will always be missed. He asserts that the news of his passing is deeply mourned by locals.

“We pray for Pak Habibie, as he inspired the establishment of this true love monument,” said Ahmad about the love story between the two that has inspired many since Ainun’s passing.

As previously reported, at around 18:05 Indonesia Western Time (WIB) BJ Habibie succumbed to heart failure at the age of 83 while under the medical supervision of medical experts at the army hospital (RSPAD) Gatot Subroto.

DIDIT HARIYADI