Bachtiar Djafar (27 July 1939 – 3 August 2021) was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the mayor of Medan, North Sumatra between 1990 and 2000.

Bachtiar Djafar
Mayor of Medan
In office
2 April 1990 – 31 March 2000
Preceded byAgus Salim Rangkuti
Succeeded byAbdillah
Personal details
Born(1939-07-27)27 July 1939
Labuhan Deli, Dutch East Indies
Died3 August 2021(2021-08-03) (aged 82)
Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Biography edit

Djafar was born in Labuhan Deli, in what is today Deli Serdang Regency, on 27 July 1939.[1]

He served in the Indonesian Army prior to his government career, including some time as part of Kopassus.[2] Djafar was sworn in as mayor of Medan on 2 April 1990. At that time, he held the rank of colonel, and was the first person of Malay descent to serve as mayor of Medan.[3] He secured his second term in 1995.[4] Prior to Djafar, Indonesian mayors of Medan were of Batak or Mandailing descent.[5]

Djafar was known for the development of the northern districts of Medan during his tenure.[6] Under Djafar, the city government also conducted restoration works at the 1854-built Al-Osmani Mosque.[7] The municipal government also conducted dredging works at the city's Deli River, which would not be done by Djafar's later successors.[8] During his tenure as mayor, he served as chair of the advisory council within Medan's Golkar branch.[9]

His tenure as mayor expired on 31 March 2000.[6] After his tenure as mayor, he continued to serve as an advisor within Golkar.[1] He also ran as a senatorial candidate for North Sumatra in the 2004 Indonesian legislative election,[10] but was not elected.[11] Djafar received the honorary title of Datuk from the Sultanate of Langkat in March 2013.[12] He was married to Rosmeini Bachtiar, and the couple has two children.[1]

Djafar died on 3 August 2021.[1] After his death, a newly established public hospital in the Medan Labuhan district was renamed after him in December 2022.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Permatasari, Indah (3 August 2021). "[BREAKING] Mantan Wali Kota Medan Bachtiar Djafar Meninggal". IDN Times (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ Peranserta pers nasional dalam pembangunan bangsa (in Indonesian). Panitia Pusat Hari Pers Nasional 1994, Bidang Publikasi dan Dokumentasi. 1994. p. 4.
  3. ^ Mimbar kekaryaan ABRI (in Indonesian). Departemen Pertahanan Keamanan, Staf Pembinan Karyawan. 1990. p. 67.
  4. ^ "Akhirnya, Bachtiar Juga". Panji Masyarakat (in Indonesian). Vol. 38. Yayasan Nurul Islam. 1995. p. 78.
  5. ^ Reid, Anthony (2010). Imperial Alchemy: Nationalism and Political Identity in Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-521-87237-9.
  6. ^ a b "Bachtiar Djafar Bantah Dukung Pasangan REDI". Medan Bagus (in Indonesian). 7 December 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Uniknya Masjid Al Osmani di Kota Medan Hasil Karya Arsitektur Jerman". SINDOnews.com (in Indonesian). 27 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Sultan Deli Ingin Kumpulkan Ulama". Analisadaily.com (in Indonesian). 14 January 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. ^ Wirodono, Sunardian (1994). "Gerakan politik Indonesia: catatan 1993" (in Indonesian). Pustaka Pembangunan Swadaya Nusantara. p. 84. ISBN 9789798312656. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Foto Anggota DPD Sumut Mulai Dipajang". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 4 February 2004. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Inilah Nama-nama DPD yang Masuk ke Senayan". detiknews (in Indonesian). 5 May 2004. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Kerapatan Adat Kesultanan Langkat Mulai Bangkit". detiknews (in Indonesian). 31 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. ^ "RSUD Bachtiar Djafar mudahkan pelayanan kesehatan warga di Medan Utara". Antara News (in Indonesian). 6 December 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.