Yohanes Obor

Michael D Ruslim, left, with Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation chairman Aminuddin. (SP Photo)

Michael Ruslim, Astra International President Director, Dies at 56

Michael Ruslim, the head of Indonesia’s second-biggest publicly listed company, died in Singapore on Wednesday morning after being hospitalized for dengue fever four days earlier.

Michael, 56, had been president director of auto maker and distributor PT Astra International since 2005.

He died at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Astra corporate secretary Aminuddin said. “All Astra group employees feel like they have lost one of our best leaders,” Aminuddin said.

Aminuddin said Michael was admitted to Jakarta’s Medistra Hospital on Saturday after complaining of strong headaches. His condition worsened and he was flown to Singapore on Monday morning.

Bambang Trisulo, chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), said Indonesia had lost one of its top business leaders.

“Michael had a high national spirit and was dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises as the backbone of the country’s economy,” he said.

Through Astra’s Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra foundation, Michael had worked to help develop the country’s SME sector.

Pardomuan Sihombing, head of research at PT Paramitra Alfa Sekuritas, said that under Michael’s management Astra had accelerated its sales and net income and become more efficient.

Astra’s share price drop after the news of Michael’s death as the investment community was concerned about the caliber of Astra’s leadership without Michael, Pardomuan said. Astra shares fell 1.2 percent on Wednesday.

Aminuddin said Astra’s management would remain strong without Michael. “Whoever replaces Michael will be qualified to sustain Astra’s solid management as Michael had transferred good management [practices] to all group executives, including the branch heads,” he said.

Born in Bandung, Michael studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

He had been at Astra since 1983. In 2008, he was re-elected as president director and likely would have served until at least 2012.

Michael is survived by his wife, Trisni Puspitaningtyas, and two children: a daughter, Gisela Deamanda Prasadhistika, a high school student; and a son, Mayongga Gilang Pragiwaksana, a junior high school student.

Michael will be buried at 8 a.m. this morning at the San Diego Hills Memorial Park, east of Jakarta, Aminuddin said.

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