Meet B.M. Diah, the Journalist Who Preserves a Piece of Indonesia’s History

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Many figures played important roles in Indonesia’s independence, including journalists who helped spread the news of the country’s freedom. One of them was Burhanuddin Mohammad Diah, better known as B.M. Diah, a journalist who helped spread the news of the Proclamation and preserved one of Indonesia’s most important historical documents.

According to the official website of Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Diah, who was born in Banda Aceh on April 7, 1917, aspired to become a journalist from his early age. Despite receiving less formal education than some of his peers, he developed strong skills in journalism.

B.M. Diah began his journalism career as an editor at Sinar Deli in Medan, North Sumatra. He later worked for Sin Po newspaper and became managing editor and editor-in-chief of Asia Raya. One of the highlights of his career came when he founded Harian Merdeka on October 1, 1945, just weeks after Indonesia proclaimed its independence.

During the crucial hours surrounding Indonesia’s independence, B.M. Diah received an important task from Mohammad Hatta, Indonesia’s first vice president, to quickly spread the news of independence through the press. In the early hours of August 17, 1945, he made his way to a printing house in Central Jakarta despite the limited communication facilities available at the time.

B.M. Diah also played an important role in preserving the original handwritten Proclamation manuscript written by Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president. After the text was typed by Sayuti Melik, the handwritten version was considered unnecessary and was reportedly thrown into a wastebasket at the house of Rear Admiral Tadashi Maeda.

Recognizing the historical value of the document, B.M. Diah retrieved it and kept it for more than 46 years. In 1992, he handed the manuscript over to President Soeharto, ensuring that the historic document could be preserved for future generations.

Beyond journalism, B.M. Diah also served as Indonesia’s ambassador to Czechoslovakia and Hungary, followed by postings in the United Kingdom and Thailand. After returning to Indonesia, he served as Minister of Information from 1966 to 1968.

Burhanuddin Mohammad Diah died in Jakarta on June 10, 1996, at the age of 79 and was buried at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery with a military ceremony. His life shows how a journalist can take on many roles as a writer, freedom fighter, diplomat, and statesman, while remaining guided by a strong sense of principle.