Franky Sahilatua, A Friend to Everyone's Heart

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Ballad singer Franky Sahilatua passed away at around 3.15pm on Wednesday after being treated for four days at Medika Permata Hijau Hospital. Saifullah Yusuf, the East Java deputy governor who is Franky’s close friend, also confirmed he had received news about his passing away.

Franky who was born in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, 1953 had earlier been treated at Singapore’s General Hospital for cancer in his spinal cord. He was known not only as a singer and a song writer but also environment activist and as having great care for national conditions.

His body is being temporarily laid to rest at his house in Bintaro, South Jakarta, before being buried at the Tanah Kusir cemetery on Friday. "He will be buried on Friday in Tanah Kusir," his sister , Jane Sahilatua, said, adding she was waiting for the arrival of a brother from the Netherlands and Franky’s children from Singapore.

She said "we, Franky’s family, accept his death which is for his good because he has suffered so much because of his disease." She said she often accompanied him while in hospital and "he liked to sing even in the hospital."

Tjahjo Kumolo, the chairman of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) said PDIP general chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri was shocked to hear the news and directly sent a bouquet to the house of the bereaved.

"Ibu (Megawati) experessed deep condolences over his death. She knew him well as Franky had always given support to PDIP actitivities," said him.