JAKARTA (Antara): M. Jusuf Ronodipuro, one of the founding fathers of state radio RRI, passed away at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital at about 11:20 p.m Sunday.He was 88.Born in 1920, Jusuf suffered from a stroke in June 2007 and had been in and out of hospital since then.According to daughter Fatmi Ronodipuro, the burial would be held at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetary in South Jakarta.

Along with Bachtiar Lubis, Jusuf was the first person to read Indonesia’s 1945 Proclamation of Independence on air.

Jusuf requested then president Soekarno to make a recording of the proclamation as an authentic historical proof. The recording was made in 1950.Jusuf also coined the “Once on air, remains on air” slogan which then becomes RRI’s slogan. RRI broadcasters keep saying the slogan until today.Jusuf held various positions during Sukarno era such as secretary general of the information ministry as well as a number of assignments to London and the United Nations headquarters in New York.He also served as Indonesian ambassador to Buenos Aires during Soeharto’s administration.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com