Prabowo Offers Condolences On Gerindra Chairman's Demise

Jakarta, Aug 29 (Antara) - Chairman of Gerindra Board of Trustee Prabowo Subianto offered condolences on the death of his friend, Gerindra Party Chairman Suhardi, in Jakarta on Thursday night (August 28). "Deep condolences for the family. Goodbye my friend, Prof. Suhardi, may you rest in peace. You were a true patriot and leader. We respect you and will continue your traditions and ideals," Prabowo Subianto stated here on Friday. He remarked that Gerindra`s family offered their condolences on the death of Suhardi. He hoped that God would receive the deceased. "We were proud to fight with Suhardi," Prabowo noted. Prabowo pointed out that Suhardi passed away as Gerindra Chairman. He had chaired the party for over six years. Prabowo expressed gratitude to all those present to condole the death of Prof. Suhardi. He remarked that Suhardi was a good and honest figure. "Our nation needs a good and honest figure. Today, we have lost our chairman. Suhardi was a true patriot and a scholar who fought for justice and independence," he noted. Gerindra Party Chairman Suhardi passed away at 9:35 p.m. local time, at the Pertamina Central Hospital in South Jakarta where he was undergoing treatment since Tuesday (August 26) for a critical condition as he was suffering from stage IV lung cancer. Suhardi had led the party since it was founded by former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in 2008. Before becoming a full-time politician, Suhardi was an agriculture and forestry professor at the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University. He attained his master and doctoral degrees from the University of the Philippines, Los Baos.