REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The rumours that said Indonesia’s third president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie passed away on Tuesday (Sept 10) confirmed as hoax (fake news). One of the sources at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital (RSPAD), hospital where Habibie is under the intensive care, firmly denied the rumour that initially circulated on social medias.
“Alhamdulillah (thank God), he (Habibie) is alive, but currently he still needs a number of medical equipments to breath,” said a source in condition of anonimity on Tuesday.
The rumours of Habibie’s current condition initially circulated on Facebook. The information then spread further through chat application Whatsapp. However, at 05.00 WIB (Indonesia West Standard Time) the information has been deleted and no longer circulated.
On last Sunday (Sept 8) afternoon, Habibie’s personal secretary, Rubijanto confirmed Habibie is under the intensive care at RSPAD. According to him, Presidential Doctor Team (TDK) currently will not allow anyone to visit Habibie, so he can rest.
Earlier, State Secretariat secretary Setya Utama also reported Habibie’s current condition was getting better on Monday (Sept 9). He said government has sent TDK to assist Habibie during his treatment at RSPAD.
Setya explained there are 44 doctors in the team and they are specialists in a number of fields, such as heart and brain. He also said that TDK has alerted to monitor Habibie’s condition and they can be contacted whenever needed.