Auw Jong Peng Koen

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Auwjong Peng Koen 欧阳炳昆 (July 25, 1920 - May 31, 1980; also known as PK Ojong or Petrus Kanisius Ojong) was one of the founders of Kompas, one of Indonesia's daily newspapers. [1]

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[edit] Early life

Auwjong Peng Koen was born in Bukittinggi on July 25, 1920. Since childhood, his father, Auwjong Pauw, always taught him to be discipline, economical, and hard working. His father was a farmer in Quemoy Island (part of Taiwan). He moved to Sumatra to get a better job.

Even though eventually Auwjong Pauw became a successful tobacco lord, he never pampered his children. His taught really shaped Peng Koen character. He became a serious and very straight forward person.

Peng Koen also showed that kind of attitude when he was at Hollandsch Chineesche School (primary school for the Chinese). During this time he was introduced to Catholic teachings, and finally converted to Catholic and got the baptism name of Andreas.

[edit] Higher education

Peng Koen went to Hollandsche Chineesche Kweekschool to pursue his study. During this time, he was appointed as a leader of students organization. His task was to prepare reading material for the members. Other than that, he also planned the Chinese New Year celebration and year-end picnic.

He loved to read newspapers and magazines. Whereas other students just read the articles, Peng Koen tried to digest the writing styles and the ideas of every articles.

It is said that Peng Koen was a bit 'stiff' when he faced the opposite sex. One of his ex-classmates, Oei Yin Hwa, who own a sweets shop in Cianjur, still remember that Peng Koen was known as verstrooide professor or forgetful professor

His colleague at university, Oei Tjoe Tat (who later served as country minister during Sukarno era), said that Peng Koen was a very serious person. So serious that he could not even make a funny joke.

[edit] Career Life

Peng Koen was a teacher before he became a journalist. His career as teacher was ended when Japan attacked Indonesia and closed all the existing school at that time.

During his career life as a journalist, it's almost impossible to be an idealist journalist. Fortunately, he could overcome every barrier. For him, idealism cannot go alone, it must be followed by intelligence, entrepreneurship, and great characteristic. Otherwise, a journalist would only end up shot dead.

He also worked for Star weekly once, a Malay magazine. During that time he also had an opportunity to work with Felix Tan.[2]

[edit] Social Work

PK Ojong actively took part in social organization called Sin Ming Hui (currently known as Candra Naya) which was established by Khoe Woen Sioe and Injo Beng Goat.

[edit] Post Life

PK Ojong died in Jakarta in 1980. His biography, PK Ojong: Hidup Sederhana, Berpikir Mulia was published in 2001. The author of the book is Helen Ishwara. The book contains PK Ojong's experiences with the background of Old Order and New Order

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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