In Commemoration Eka Tjipta Widjaja Figure

Eka Tjipta Widjaja with Chia Wen Yu and Liu Su Mei (Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia).

Founder of Sinar Mas Grup, Eka Tjipta Widjaja passed away on Saturday (26/1/2019) 19.45 WIB at 98 years old. It was caused by age and health factors. Eka Tjipta Widjaja was Tzu Chi Indonesia Advisor, and he supported a lot of Tzu Chi developments in Indonesia in the early days of its establishment.

Eka Tjipta Widjaja was introduced to Tzu Chi Indonesia by his secretary, Chia Wen Yu. Wen Yu herself joined Tzu Chi in 1995 and since then she dare herself to introduce and raise funds (donation) for Tzu Chi from her colleagues and businessmen including her superior, Eka Tjipta Widjaja.

In 1998, Wen Yu invited Eka Tjipta to meet Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, at Hualien, Taiwan. The words of Master Cheng Yen that businessmen who gain profits from the local homeland is proper to serve the local community was very touching for Eka Tjipta. Since then, he always supported Tzu Chi, even to become Indonesia Tzu Chi Foundation Advisor.

Supported by Eka Tjipta Widjaja and his son, Franky O. Widjaja (vice chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation), Tzu Chi Indonesia then started its office in ITC Mangga Dua Building, 6^th Floor, Jakarta. Before, Tzu Chi Indonesia office was in the house of one of its volunteer at Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. For thirteen years, Tzu Chi occupied this office, until October 2012, when it has its own Indonesia Jing Si Hall at Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta.

Supporting Wholeheartedly

Eka Tjipta Widjaja enthusiastically encouraged the audiences participated in “Malam Cinta Kasih” at Grand Hyatt Hotel (19/03/2002) to participate together in helping flood victims in Jakarta

Eka Tjipta supports for Tzu Chi Indonesia keep on going. Started by distribution of groceries in the 1999 to rehabilitation program for Kali Angke residents and the development of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing. It’s all started from the flood happen on Jakarta in 2002. Eka Tjipta observed the condition is so severed because of the flood, so that a lot of people were suffering from hunger, cold and anxiety. He though, “Can Tzu Chi do better than now? Especially for these victims.”

From that intention, he held a dinner banquet on 22^nd February 2002 at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta. Eka Tjipta invited his colleagues, some businessmen in Indonesia, including Sugianto Kusuma. Once the dinner started, he give a welcoming speech, addressing the flood problem in Jakarta. He said with full of emotions,”On television, I watched a lot of women and children going down severed flooded places, there’s a sadness in my heart. In the night, what will they eat? Where they sleep? How can I help them?” Eka Tjipta then told the doctors and guests about his activities and involvement in Tzu Chi. That night he also told them that he is a Christian, but he feel very sympathetic towards Tzu Chi humanities activities.

Eka Tjipta Widjaja, his wife, Franky O.Widjaja, Liu Su Mei (Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation) and Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers met Master Cheng Yen to report Jakarta post-flood condition. Master Cheng Yen felt sorry and gave her directions to help the flood victims.

When running the program, Eka Tjipta Widjaja himself went to the site and help to clean the flooded area.

During the event, there were a lot of discussions about the flood in Jakarta. In that occasion, Eka Tjipta personally express his idea to Stephen Huang (Leader of Tzu Chi International Aid Mission) about providing a more decent place to live for the flood victims. Upon hearing this idea, Stephen Huang wisely recommend Eka Tjipta to discuss it directly with Master Cheng Yen.

On 6^th March 2002, Eka Tjipta, his wife, Franky O. Widjaja, Liu Su Mei (Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation), and Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers met Master Cheng Yen to report about Jakarta condition after the flood. Master Cheng Yen felt sorry when she heard about the poor condition of Kali Angke and full of people living on the both sides, even building their houses above the black and dirty water. In front of Master Cheng Yen, Eka Tjipta expressed his hope that Tzu Chi can be more helpful for the victims.

Master Cheng Yen then gave her directions to help the victims. Eka Tjipta immediately agreed with the plans. Back to Indonesia, he and Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers compiled a post-flood assistance programs according to Master Cheng Yen directions. Master Cheng Yen gave out 5 countermeasures in the form of suctioning of puddles, cleaning of garbage, prevention of disease outbreak, disease treatment and home developments.

Inauguration of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing Cengkareng, West Jakarta on 25^th August 2003. Eka Tjipta Widjaja hand out the tumpeng to Liu Su Mei, Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia who is also in charge of the housing development.

In the meeting, Eka Tjipta submit the plan of garbage cleaning, he also intends to do it himself. All who present at that time shocked by his spirits. Inspired by Eka Tjipta, who was 80 years old, a number of preparatory steps begin.

The first step was to arranged organizational structure, Liu Su Mei, experienced in various charity actions became the executive leader of the for the post-flood assistance program, assisted by Ranky O.Widjaja and Sugianto Kusuma.

Tzu Chi realized that the programs need support from many people, especially from the businessmen. Because of that, Tzu Chi held an event in Grand Hyatt Hotel on 19^th March 2002. Eka Tjipta gave his speech and encourage the audiences to develop and give their love and gratitude towards others so the poor can be free of their problem. Since that night, a series of air programs begin.

On 25^th August 2003, Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing in Cengkareng, West Jakarta was inaugurated. It can house 1.100 people from Angke riverbank. In the housing complex, Tzu Chi volunteers not only provide the housing but also provide it with education and healthcare facilities (now Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Hospital). In this new environment, the residents and their children were also educated to become a better self.

Almost 16 years of its establishment, Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing has bring in a lot of changes for its residents to become a better person.

Since it moved in 2003, the result of the seed of love that once sown before are now start to grow. The changes are very visible. Children who were once did not care for education, now have become the best graduates from each of their own educational level. More than 10 years, Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing has produced best graduates, engineers and athletes. From all that happens, the most important thing is not what changes in the outside, but also their inner part. This residents not only moved from the “suburban” to “urban,” but also they cared for education. Through educations, every family can hope to fix their lives and this is all because of the hardworking and sincerity from many parties including the donators.

Thank you Mr. Eka Tjipta Widjaja for your caring, sincerity and contribution to societies. What he has done becomes a history in humanity that full of warmth and inspiration.

Translated by: Alwing Low (Tzu Chi School)