President: Late Ainun Habibie one of Indonesia`s best daughters

"She had accompanied Indonesia`s third president, Prof. Dr. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, in carrying out his very heavy state tasks," the president said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Madame Ainun faithfully and trustfully always flanked the then president Habibie to pass through tough times in one of the country`s historical periods when Indonesia was hit by a crisis in 1998 and 1999 coinciding with the start of crucial dramatic and large-scale national reform movement, he said.

The funeral at the heroes`<> cemetery was to reflect the State and Government`s respect and appreciation for the former first lady for her services and devotion to the state and nation.

Ainun was chairperson of the Indonesian Eye Donors Association (PPMTI) and Integrated Foster Parents` Scholarships Foundation (YAAB-ORBIT).

She graduated from the University of Indonesia`s Medical Faculty in 1961 and was awarded the "Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipradana" and "Bintang Mahaputra Adipurna" stars.

During the 45-minute funeral procession, BJ Habibie, who was accompanied among others by his two grandchildren, looked very sad and tired and shed tears several times.

The body of former first lady Asri Ainun Habibie arrived from Germany in Jakarta Tuesday morning and was laid in state at the family`s Patra Kuningan residence for a few hours.

Born in Semarang (Central Java) on August 11, 1937, Ainun Habibie died at Ludwig Maximilians - Universitat, Klinikum Gro`hadern, Munich, Germany, Saturday (May 22). She had been hospitalized since March 24, 2010.

Habibie and Ainun were married on May 1, 1962, and they later had two sons, Ilham Akbar Habibie and Thareq Kemal Habibie. (dar)