Condolences continue to pour onthe first day of mourning. 

International dignitaries are offering their condolences over the demise of Indonesia’s former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie at the age of 83 on Wednesday.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison, tweeted his condolences on Thursday on his official Twitter account @ScottMorrisonMP.

“Deepest condolences on the passing of Indonesia’s third president, BJ Habibie. He led the Republic of Indonesia at a time of massive change. His courage and vision during the period of reformasi were appreciated in Australia. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Deepest condolences to the family and all of the Indonesian people over Bapak BJ Habibie’s return to God. His demise is a huge loss. I wish God bless his soul. Al Fatihah.”

German Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Schoof stressed Habibie’s enormous contribution to Indonesia, as well as to relations between Germany and Indonesia.

Members of the Indonesian community in Germany also expressed their condolences.

An official condolence letter issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Berlin cites BJ Habibie’s intellectual journey in Germany, making his passing hit home harder for the Indonesian people living, working and studying in Germany.

“Bapak BJ Habibie, as all Indonesians call him, had a very close relations with Germany. He started studying in RWTH Aachen in 1955. He was also known as an egalitarian person, a teacher and an extraordinary role model for Indonesians,” Arief Havas Oegroseno, Indonesia’s ambassador to Germany, wrote in the circular.

Habibie obtained an engineer’s degree in 1960 and a Doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1965.

“Being inspired by Bapak BJ Habibie, there are now no less than 7,000 young Indonesians pursuing their studies in Germany. No wonder that Germany is now one of the destination countries for many Indonesian students, not only for aviation engineering studies but also other fields of study including maritime engineering,” Arief added.

The circular also said that the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Berlin is opening its doors for members of diplomatic corps, as well as any Indonesians and Germans, who would like to pay their respects to BJ Habibie by writing in a condolence book on Sept. 12, 13 and 16. (gis)