He shared this during a celebration of his 84th birthday at his\nresidence on Jalan Brawijaya IV, South Jakarta, on Saturday (May 16,\n2026). JK stated that he never planned to enter the world of politics.\nAccording to him, his entry into government happened suddenly when he\nwas a member of the MPR representing his region. He recounted that when\nGus Dur was forming his cabinet after being elected president, there was\na discussion about the representation of Eastern Indonesia in the\ngovernment. At that time, JK said, his name was mentioned as someone who\nwould be suitable for the role.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuddenly, when President Gus Dur was proposing his cabinet, he said,\n\u2018Who can represent Eastern Indonesia?\u2019 Only one person could, and that\nwas me. So I joined the cabinet,\u201d said JK.<\/p>\n
Since then, JK\u2019s political career has continued to rise. He has\nserved as Minister of Industry and Trade, Minister of Coordinating\nWelfare (Menko Kesra), and twice as vice president under Susilo Bambang\nYudhoyono and Joko Widodo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to be a member of the DPR, then a minister, then Menko Kesra,\nvice president, and then I failed to become president,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He divided his life journey into three major phases. The first phase\nwas his education and organizational activities from childhood until the\nage of 25, then the second phase was developing the family business for\nabout 35 years, and the third phase was when he entered the world of\npolitics and government.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy life is divided into three parts. One-third, one-third. From\nchildhood until the age of 25, I was in school. While also being active\nin various activities, if you count them, there were many. I\nparticipated in all kinds of organizations for 25 years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After completing his education, JK said he immediately continued his\nfather\u2019s business. At that time, he faced a crossroads when he was\noffered an important position in the government.<\/p>\n
JK revealed that his thesis when he was in economics faculty was\nabout rice. Because he was considered to understand the issue, he was\nonce asked to fill the position of Head of Bulog.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I graduated from the economics faculty, my thesis was about\nrice. So when the Head of Bulog was going to be replaced, they asked me\nto replace him, because \u2018Mr.\u00a0Jusuf knows a lot about it\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to JK, this proposal was even supported by a number of\nimportant figures, from governors to the Commander. However, the plan\nwas eventually canceled after his father asked him to focus on\ncontinuing the family business.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when I asked my father, he only gave one answer, \u2018So, who will\ncontinue the company?\u2019 Oh dear,\u201d said JK, which was met with laughter\nfrom the guests.<\/p>\n
JK then chose to be involved in the business world for decades. He\nsaid he went through the business process gradually, starting as a\nmanager and eventually leading the family company.<\/p>\n
\u201cBusiness also happened gradually. When I was a manager, my father\nsaid, \u2018You\u2019re the manager,\u2019 even though I only had two subordinates.\nEventually, I became a director, and my father took a step back. Then I\nbecame the CEO,\u201d said the Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council\n(DMI).<\/p>\n
At the age of 84, JK said he is now more focused on several areas\nthat he calls \u2018A-B-S-D\u2019. A refers to religion through his activities as\nChairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council, B for business which is now\nmostly managed by his children, S for social work through the Indonesian\nRed Cross (PMI), and D for peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, I say I only take care of A-B-S-D. I take care of religion, as\nChairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council. I take care of business, I\nsee my children here who are in charge, I just look at it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Regarding peace, JK said he is still actively helping to resolve\nconflicts in two countries. However, he is reluctant to reveal details\nbecause he has a principle that peace diplomacy should not be made\npublic before significant progress is achieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are currently still working on two countries to see how they can\nachieve peace, but my principle is that peace should not be made public.\nIt should not be published before achieving 80 percent,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
JK then gave an example of the Aceh peace process, which was carried\nout in secret before finally reaching an agreement in Helsinki,\nFinland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, Aceh was like that, no one knew that there was a\nmeeting in Helsinki until it was finished,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, JK said he is grateful to still be in good health\nat the age of 84. However, he also reminded that as age increases, the\ntime of life becomes more limited, so good deeds and worship must be\nincreased.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be said that I have a long life, it can be said,\n\u2018Alhamdulillah, I have little time left.\u2019 That means worship is\nimportant because there is little time left,\u201d he said. (bel\/azh)\u201c}<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-his-84th-birthday-jk-recalls-how-he-was-suddenly-called-upon-by-gus-dur-to-enter-politics-1780611039", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }