The man known for his wisdom and prudence has passed away. Professor Ichlasul Amal died on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the age of 82.
He is remembered as the former Rector of UGM and former Chair of the Press Council.
He was the rector who courageously supported the student movement during the 1998 reform era, even though, at that time, campus activists were often arrested and harassed by the military.
Quoted from the book ‘Rektor-Rektor Universitas Gadjah Mada: Biografi Pendidikan,’ his inauguration as rector on the eve of the 1998 reforms was attended by the Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar and students who demonstrated to hold a dialogue with the minister.
Professor Amal met with the students and expressed his support for their movement.
On another occasion, the figure who served as Chair of the Press Council was offered a ministerial position during B.J. Habibie’s presidency.
This offer caused concern among the students, who feared being abandoned, but Professor Amal’s dedication to UGM led him to remain as rector until the end of his term.
During his leadership, the UGM Campus Mosque was realized and became a center for Islamic activities around UGM.
“UGM has lost one of its finest sons, a figure who epitomized leadership and demonstrated exceptional leadership,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), Dr. Wawan Mas’udi.
Dr. Mas’udi shared how the figure born in Jember was a prolific writer and educator whose works remain highly relevant today.
Professor Amal also supported the student reform movement in 1998 and gave a speech in front of thousands of students who participated in the protests.
“His presence protected us and made us feel safe,” the dean recalled.
The Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Finance, Professor Supriyadi, expressed that Professor Ichlasul Amal’s passing left a sorrow for UGM.
“Professor Ichlasul Amal was highly dedicated to the world of education,” he said.
Professor Supriyadi praised Professor Amal’s commitment to advancing UGM by strengthening networks and the institution.
One of his efforts as the 11th Rector of UGM was securing financial aid for thousands of UGM students who couldn’t pay tuition fees due to the economic crisis.
He also sought to assist UGM employees affected by the crisis.
Even during the reform protests, Professor Amal helped detained students return home and assisted with medical expenses for injured students.
“In fact, when the Maluku conflict broke out in 1999, Professor Amal opened the opportunity for students from Pattimura University to transfer to UGM,” Professor Supriyadi explained.
Professor Amal’s dedication to UGM and Indonesia is unquestionable. His passing left former UGM Rector Professor Panut Mulyono with a sense of loss.
“He was both a teacher and a best friend. When I served as rector, he often came to my office to discuss many things,” Professor Mulyono said.
According to him, the relationship between their families was very close, and Professor Amal would often send plant seedlings.
Suwarni Darsohardjono, who once headed the UGM Public Relations Subdivision under Professor Amal’s leadership, also remembered this kindness.
“I remember him in two ways. First, he was fearless. In a time when the government was very powerful, he dared to take action. Second, he was very kind and attentive to the staff who worked with him,” Darsohardjono recalled.
Professor Amal was a proud son of UGM. He began his undergraduate studies in International Relations (IR) at UGM from 1961 to 1967.
He then continued his education at Northern Illinois University DeKalb in the United States, earning a Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science.
He earned his PhD in Political Science from Monash University, Australia, in 1984.
Two years after receiving his doctorate, he became Director of the UGM Inter-University Center (PAU) until 1988. Professor Amal also lectured in International Relations at UGM and later served as Dean of Fisipol UGM from 1988 to 1994.
In 1994, he was appointed Director of the UGM Graduate School, and in 1998, at the peak of his career, he was elected Rector of UGM during the reform era.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna Nurseisa Azrien
Photographer: Donnie