Alex Noerdin, who served as governor of South Sumatra from 2008 to 2018 and became known nationally for pushing major infrastructure development and promoting sports as a driver of regional growth, died on Feb. 25, 2026. He was 75.
He died at MRCCC/Siloam Semanggi hospital in Jakarta, where he was receiving intensive care. He had been treated at Siloam Palembang before being referred to Jakarta as his condition worsened around Feb. 20. The cause was bile duct obstruction and a pancreatic duct infection.
Elected to two terms, Noerdin was widely associated in South Sumatra with policies aimed at expanding access to basic services, including free health care and free education programs.
His administration also pursued large-scale infrastructure projects and sought to raise the province’s profile through major event hosting. That strategy was closely tied to Palembang’s Jakabaring Sport City, which became a centerpiece of his sports-led development agenda and a venue for international-scale competitions.
In later years, he faced legal scrutiny, including being named a suspect in 2021 in cases linked to a regional natural gas purchase and the construction of the Palembang Sriwijaya Mosque. Even so, his public legacy remained closely associated with Jakabaring Sport City and his efforts to position Palembang as a host for major events.