Paku Alam IX Laid to Rest on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Represents President

jpnn.com - SLEMAN – Yogyakarta Deputy Governor, the monarch ruler of Pura Pakualaman , Paku Alam IX released his last breath on Saturday Novermber 21 at 3:10 p.m. local time. He died of respiratory ailment at dr. Sardjito Hospital at the age of 77.

Kanjeng Pangeran Hario (KPH) Kusumo Parasto, a family member of Pakualaman, the body would be buried on Sunday in the Pakualaman family cemetery complex, Astana Girigondo, in Kulon Progo district. “Paku Alam V, VI, VII and VIII had all been buried there,” he said to the reporters.

He would be laid to rest next to his queen. But it would be in the lower part of cemetery from the previous Paku Alams. “It would be in the same area, but for Paku Alam IX is a bit lower. The soil is hard so it had been prepared long ago,” he explained.

KPH Indro Kusumo explained that family gathering held in the previous night agreed on holding the funeral of the late ruler at around 3 p.m. The body would be departed from Pura Pakualaman at 12:30 at noon.

Mean while, some family members of Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat Palace have paid their respect. Some of them are GBPH Prabukusumo, KGPH Hadiwinoto and GBPH Yudhaningrat. “Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX would be there.  Home Affairs Minister represented the President and Religious Affairs Minister,” he said to Radar Jogja (Jawa Pos Group).

Director of dr. Sardjito Hospital, Mohammad Syafak Hanung, elaborated that Monday on November 16, the late ruler was treated in ICU room and assisted by a respiratory aid, a ventilator. “Tuesday morning, he can still communicate. But in the afternoon, his condition worsened and he had to wear ventilator. Medicine was adjusted with condition of the body.” Syafak said to the reporters in front of the hospital’s morgue yesterday. Syafak added that last Tuesday, the doctor team was able to make him pray and Paku Alam IX said “Aaamiiin”.

A brother of Paku Alam IX, KPH Condrokusumo, explained that his brother had been a week hospitalized at dr. Sardjito because of lungs problems. According to Kanjeng Condro, his brother’s condition started dropping as he got busy as deputy governor.

On November 2, Paku Alam represented Yogyakarta Governor to read the governor’s answer on fractions general opinion in the plenary meeting in Yogyakarta’s regional House of Representative (DPRD) for almost an hour. The next day Paku Alam received Europe Union Ambassador, Vincent Guerend in Deputy Governor office.