Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

BJ Habibie was an Indonesian engineer and politician who served as the third president of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999. He was a pioneer in the development of the Indonesian aircraft industry and the founder of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, a state-owned enterprise that produces various types of aircraft. He was also a key figure in the Indonesian reform movement that led to the downfall of Suharto's authoritarian regime. He became the vice president in 1998 and succeeded Suharto as the president after he resigned amid mass protests. He reformed the political system by allowing free press and multiparty elections, and granted autonomy to East Timor, which later voted for independence. He also initiated several economic and social programs, such as the Habibie Center, the Habibie Festival, and the Habibie Award. He did not run for a second term in the 1999 presidential election and was succeeded by Abdurrahman Wahid. He remained active in various fields, such as science, technology, education, and democracy. He died in 2019 at the age of 83. He is regarded as a national hero and a visionary leader by many Indonesians.