Bachtiar Djafar
Indonesian politician and military officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bachtiar Djafar (27 July 1939 – 3 August 2021) was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the mayor of Medan, North Sumatra between 1990 and 2000.
Bachtiar Djafar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Medan | |
| In office 2 April 1990 – 31 March 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Agus Salim Rangkuti |
| Succeeded by | Abdillah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1939 Labuhan Deli, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 3 August 2021 (aged 82) Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia |
Biography
Djafar was born in Labuhan Deli, in what is today Deli Serdang Regency, on 27 July 1939.[1]
He served in the Indonesian Army prior to his government career, including some time as part of Kopassus.[2] Djafar was sworn in as mayor of Medan on 2 April 1990. At that time, he held the rank of colonel, and was the first person of Malay descent to serve as mayor of Medan.[3] He secured his second term in 1995.[4] Prior to Djafar, Indonesian mayors of Medan were of Batak or Mandailing descent.[5]
Djafar was known for the development of the northern districts of Medan during his tenure.[6] Under Djafar, the city government also conducted restoration works at the 1854-built Al-Osmani Mosque.[7] The municipal government also conducted dredging works at the city's Deli River, which would not be done by Djafar's later successors.[8] During his tenure as mayor, he served as chair of the advisory council within Medan's Golkar branch.[9]
His tenure as mayor expired on 31 March 2000.[6] After his tenure as mayor, he continued to serve as an advisor within Golkar.[1] He also ran as a senatorial candidate for North Sumatra in the 2004 Indonesian legislative election,[10] but was not elected.[11] Djafar received the honorary title of Datuk from the Sultanate of Langkat in March 2013.[12] He was married to Rosmeini Bachtiar, and the couple has two children.[1]
Djafar died on 3 August 2021.[1] After his death, a newly established public hospital in the Medan Labuhan district was renamed after him in December 2022.[13]