Mahendradatta award goes to Gus Dur

The family of former RI president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid on Sunday received the Mahendradatta award on Wahid’s behalf, from the University of Mahendradatta, for his contribution to protecting minorities.

Gus Dur’s daughter, Inayah Wulandari Wahid, said she was expecting public to uphold the principles of democracy and justice that her father had fought for.

University Rector Shri Gusti Ngurah Arya Wedakarna said the cleric had inspired the country to achieve noble goals.

“His example was clearly seen in how he protected minorities, such as Hindu, Christian and Chinese people,” Shri said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com during a ceremony to hand over the award, at the university in Denpasar, Bali.

Gus Dur passed away at Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in Central Jakarta last month. He was buried in his hometown of Jember, East Java. (ewd)