Indonesian tycoon donates $1m to U.C. Berkeley

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 04/27/2011

The owner of Mayapada group and one of Indonesia's most renowned tycoons, Tahir, has recently donated US$ 1 million to the University of California, Berkeley.

Receiving the donation was the university chancellor, Robert J Birgeneau.

Tahir said the donation was expected to be used to assist Indonesian students currently studying at Berkeley who were facing financial problems.

“With this fund, I hope I can do something to help our students to continue their studies at Berkeley,” Tahir said Wednesday.

He added that it was his duty as a member of the university’s board of trustees to make the donation.

“In fact, I am the only Asian on the board now,” he said.

When asked about how many Indonesian students might benefit from the funds, Tahir said he had no idea, adding that the technical details of its provision had been left to the university management.