Syahrul – an Indonesian politician, teacher, and member of the Great Indonesia Movement Party – died on April 28, 2020, after suffering from Covid-19
He served as the Mayor of Tanjung Pinang, and capital and second largest city in the Riau Islands, from September 21, 2018, until his death from COVID-19 on April 28, 2020. Prior to that office, Syahrul had served as Deputy Mayor of Tanjung Pinang from 2013 to 2018.
Syahrul, who was one of eight siblings, was born in Tarempa, on August 30, 1960. As a child, he sold ice and small cakes to earn extra money for his family. He graduated from Tanjung Pinang Teacher Training School (SPG) in 1983 and was appointed as a teacher. He later earned a bachelor of education degree from Indonesia Open University in 2008.
Syahrul served as Deputy Mayor of Tanjung Pinang from 2013 to 2018 under Mayor Lis Darmansyah.
In 2018, Syahrul became Mayor of Tanjung Pinang, while Rahma became the city’s deputy mayor. They were inaugurated on September 21, 2018, at the Tanjung Pinang regional building for an expected term of 2018–2023.
Mayor Syahrul was hospitalized on April 11, 2020, for shortness of breath. A swab test confirmed that he was positive for COVID-19 several days later. Syahrul’s wife, his grandchild, and his doctor also tested positive for COVID-19.
He remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Tanjungpinang Regional Hospital until his death on April 28, 2020, at the age of 59. Mayor Syahrul was the second Indonesian regional leader to die due to COVID-19 in April 2020, following the death of North Morowali Regent Aptripel Tumimomor on April 2.