Ezra Sihite, Bayu Marhaenjati & Arientha Primanita – Sudomo, a former cabinet minister, Navy chief and top security commander, died in Jakarta on Wednesday morning at the age of 85.

He had been in intensive care at Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta since Saturday for a blood clot in the brain after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke while attending a wedding reception, his family said.

Biakto Putra, Sudomo's oldest son, said the former admiral passed away at 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday. He said the stroke had been unexpected because his father did not have a history of serious illness and had never complained about feeling ill.

Sudomo began his career in the Navy, where he served as chief of staff from 1969-73. He was later appointed commander of the Command for the Restoration of Security and Public Order (Kopkamtib), the pervasive security network set up by Suharto following the 1965 coup attempt.

He headed the Kopkamtib from 1978-83, after which he was named the manpower minister under Suharto. After a five-year stint in the post, he was promoted to coordinating minister for political and security affairs, where he served until 1993.

Several of his former contemporaries arrived at Sudomo's home in Pondok Indah on Wednesday afternoon to pay their last respects and remember the man they used to work alongside.

Akbar Tandjung, chairman of Golkar's leadership board and a minister under Suharto, remembered Sudomo as a "down-to-earth man" with an "important role in the New Order government." "If you were to judge from his appearance, you would never know that he had such a crucial role in the New Order," he said.

Ginandjar Kartasasmita, another decorated Suharto-era minister and former air marshal in the Air Force, said Sudomo's time in the cabinet was marked by his knack for breaking down complex problems and making them seem simple.

"Throughout his time in office he never came across as an intimidating figure," he said. "If a problem was difficult, he made it easy. Even though he was a figure from an authoritarian regime, he set a good example for the people and the government."

Harmoko, Suharto's former communications minister, said he had always been in awe of Sudomo. "He was known for being courageous in everything he did, whether it was in the military or as a minister," he said.

Siswono Yudo Husodo, another Suharto-era minister, said Sudomo was an instrumental figure in the "freeing of West Irian," referring to the Indonesian takeover of western Papua in 1963, and in helping thwart the Sept. 30 coup attempt two years later.

Praise for Sudomo also came pouring in from current ministers who were not professionally acquainted with him.

Jero Wacik, the minister for energy and mineral resources, said he knew Sudomo through their shared hobby of golf, adding they often played together. Sudomo was a former head of the national golfing association. "I am truly saddened by this loss. He rendered a lot of services to the nation," Jero said at the State Palace.

Djoko Suyanto, the current coordinating minister for security, acknowledged that while Sudomo might have been a controversial figure during the New Order, he had done a lot for the country and "brought color into the lives of the people."

Sudomo will be buried at 9 a.m. today at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery in South Jakarta, with Vice President Boediono to lead the funeral services.