PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN — Mr. Iftiqar S.A. Ponto, Senior Prince of Bolangitang and a North Sulawesi historian, has called on the public to recall the services and devotion of the late S.A.S. Ponto, a native of Bolangitang who made landmark contributions to agriculture, food security, and biological science from the Dutch East Indies era through Indonesia’s early independence years.
S.A.S. Ponto was born in Bolangitang, North Sulawesi, on 14 December 1902, to Sinjo Ponto and Matina Lauma. His father, Sinjo Ponto, served as President-Raja of the Kingdom of Bolangitang and was the son of Raja Bonji Ponto.
From an early age, S.A.S. Ponto studied at the Middelbare Landbouw School Buitenzorg, a secondary agricultural institution established under Dutch colonial rule. This educational background laid the foundation for his role as a key figure in advancing agricultural science across Indonesia.
Among his most notable achievements was developing a method to control rampant invasive plant species in the Makassar region while serving with the Dutch East Indies Agricultural Service (Landbouw). In recognition of this dedication, he was awarded the Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in September 1946.
His service was also formally acknowledged by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 173 of 1951, he was appointed as Indonesia’s official delegate to the International Meeting on Land Utilisation in Tropical Regions, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), from 17 to 29 September 1951. The international forum addressed land use in tropical and equatorial zones to strengthen food security and agricultural development.
Beyond agriculture, S.A.S. Ponto left a lasting mark in scientific circles through his 1932 publication “De Teken van den Oost-Indischen Archipel” (The Ticks of the East Indies Archipelagos), co‑authored with B.J. Krijgsman. The work became a seminal scientific reference on the systematics and biology of tick species in the Dutch East Indies, and remains a valued historical source in zoology and biological research.
S.A.S. Ponto passed away in Bogor, West Java, on 18 November 1971, leaving a legacy of thought and service that remains relevant to the development of Indonesia’s agricultural and scientific sectors today.
Iftiqar S.A. Ponto, who is also S.A.S. Ponto’s grandson, expressed hope that his grandfather’s contributions will continue to be remembered by the nation.
“He gave tangible contributions to the advancement of agriculture, food security, and biological science. His legacy of ideas and service should inspire the younger generation to keep working for the nation—especially in strengthening national food resilience and advancing scientific knowledge,” Iftiqar S.A. Ponto stated.
He added that honoring regional figures who served at home and abroad is vital to preserving national historical memory and fostering a spirit of dedication among future generations across all strategic fields.
S.A.S. Ponto: A North Sulawesi Agricultural Pioneer and Scientist Worth Remembering.
Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
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