The United Indonesia Cabinet 2004-2009

The United Indonesia Cabinet 2004-2009

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs
Widodo Adi Sucipto

Born in Boyolali, Central Java, on Aug. 1, 1944 and graduating
from the Navy Academy in 1968, Widodo became Indonesian Military
(TNI) chief during the Abdurrahman Wahid administration from
October 1999 to June 2002. He was the first Navy officer to take
the military's top job, heading the Navy before being promoted to
deputy TNI chief during president BJ Habibie's term.

Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) M. Ma'ruf

Born in Tegal, Central Java, on Sept. 20, 1942 and a graduate of
the National Military Academy in 1965, Ma'ruf holds a degree in
management from the Open University in Jakarta. Currently he is a
central executive board member of the Democratic Party; the party
that nominated Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as president. Ma'ruf was
the Indonesian ambassador to Vietnam from 1997 to 2000 after
serving as the chief of staff of the Siliwangi military command
in West Java, the Udayana military command in Bali and the
Diponegoro military command in Central Java.

State Minister for the Accelerated Development of Disadvantaged
Regions Saifullah Yusuf

Born in Pasuruan, East Java, on Aug. 28, 1964, Saifullah finished
his studies in 1985 at the School of Political and Social
Sciences at the National University (UNAS) in Jakarta. He is the
current chairman of the Ansor youth movement affiliated to the
country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
Saifullah was elected in the 1999 legislative election as a House
of Representatives member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P). However, he quit and later joined the NU-
founded National Awakening Party (PKB) in 2002. Currently, he
serves as the PKB secretary general and was elected a House
member in this year's April 5 legislative elections.

Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh

Born in Pekalongan, Central Java, on April 1, 1941, Abdul Rachman
obtained a bachelor's degree in law from the Yogyakarta-based
Gadjah Mada University in 1967, and started his career as a
journalist with the Nusantara daily in 1968. He quit to became
the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation chairman in 1973.

While leading his Abd. Rahman Saleh-Tuty Hutagalung law firm,
he qualified as a notary in 1990 and was awarded a master's
degree from the University of Indonesia in 1995. Abdul Rachman is
a senior member of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

He most recently came into the national spotlight as the only
Supreme Court judge to submit a dissenting opinion in the appeal
trial of Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung, who had been
convicted of graft by lower courts. Four other justices agreed to
accept Akbar's appeal.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono,

Born in Ciamis, West Java, on March 5, 1942, and a graduate of
the University of Indonesia, Juwono obtained a Ph.D. in
International Relations from the London School of Economics and
Political Science in 1978, and is the current Ambassador to
Britain appointed by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Juwono was the defense minister from 1999 and 2000 during the
Abdurrahman Wahid presidency, the first civilian to take the job.
Juwono was the education and culture minister during the BJ
Habibie administration from May 1998 to Oct. 1999 and the state
minister for the environment under Soeharto's rule in 1997.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Freddy Numberi

The only native Papuan in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's
Cabinet, Freddy was born in Serui, on Oct. 15, 1947, and served
as Papua governor from 2001 to 2003 after retiring from the Navy.
Freddy was the state minister for state administrative reforms
under the Abdurrahman Wahid administration and is the current
Ambassador to Italy and the republic of Malta, appointed by
former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

State Minister of Communication and Information Sofyan A. Djalil:

Born into farming family in Perlak, Aceh, in 1953, Sofyan
obtained his Ph.D. in International Finance and Capital Markets
from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at the U.S. Tufts
University in 1993. A corporate communications consultant to
several companies, Sofyan has a broad knowledge of business,
public policy and the stock market.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Adhyaksa Dault

Born in Donggala, Central Sulawesi, on June 7, 1963, Adhyaksa is
studying for his Ph.D. in the Maritime Affairs Department at the
Bogor Institute of Agriculture. He was chairman of the National
Youth Association (KNPI) from 1999 to 2002 and headed the
Indonesian Advocates Union (IPHI) from 1999 to 2004. Adhyaksa,
the husband of Mirah Arismunandar and father of Umar Putra
Adhyaksa, 8, and Fakhira Putri Maryam Adhyaksa, 4, said his
ministry would work with the National Sports Council (KONI) to
professionalize sport.

State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra

Born in Bangka-Belitung province on Feb. 5, 1956, Yusril earned a
Ph.D. in law at the Institute of Postgraduate Studies, at the
University of Science, Malaysia. Yusril, who is currently the
chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), started his career as
a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of Law in
1984. Before taking a portfolio in Susilo's Cabinet, he earlier
served as a minister in Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati
Soekarnoputri's Cabinets.

State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik

Born in Singaraja, Bali on April 24, 1949, Jero is a graduate of
the Bandung Institute of Technology and the University of
Indonesia's School of Economics. Starting his career in United
Tractor, a subsidiary of PT Astra International Tbk, Jero now
runs his own property and tourism businesses. He is a member of
Susilo's Democratic Party.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi

Born in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra on July 13, 1949, Sudi
graduated from the local military academy and ended his military
career at the rank of Lt. General. He became Brawijaya military
commander and was Susilo's secretary when the President served as
Coordinating Minister of Political and Security Affairs under the
Megawati administration.

Minister of Transportation Hatta Rajasa

Born in
Palembang, South Sumatra province, on Dec. 18, 1953,
Hatta graduated from the Bandung Institute of
Technology in 1980. He was president director of PT
Arthindo Utama between 1982 and 2000. Hatta left his
career in business and entered politics in 2000,
joining the National Mandate Party (PAN) to later be
named its secretary-general. He became a legislator
in 1999 and was once chairman of the House of
Representative's PAN faction. Hatta was also
Minister of Research and Technology under the
Megawati administration (2001-2004).

State Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadarma Ali

Born in Jakarta on Sept. 19, 1956, Suryadarma graduated from
Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute in 1984. Suryadarma
worked with retail giant PT Hero Group between 1985 and 1999. His
last position in the company was deputy director. Suryadarma
joined the United Development Party (PPP) and became a legislator
with the House of Representatives. He chaired Commission V at the
House between 2001 and 2004.

State Minister of Public Housing M. Yusuf Asy'ari

Born in Magelang, Central Java province, on Oct. 21, 1945, Yusuf
received his masters from the School of Administrative Science of
Muhammadiyah University in Jakarta. He started his career as a
civil servant at the Ministry of Finance in 1977. Eight years
later he joined conglomerate Bimantara Group. Yusuf was director
of internal affairs at private television company PT Rajawali
Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI) (2001-2002). He joined the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) that supported Susilo and his last
position was as member of the party's advisory board.

Minister of Trade Marie Elka Pangestu

Born on Oct. 23, 1956 in Jakarta, Marie is the only Cabinet
member of ethnic Chinese descent. Marie gained a doctoral degree
from the University of California in 1986 in international trade,
finance and monetary affairs. She was program coordinator for the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, grouping 23 member
economies within the region. Currently, Marie is a director of
the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and is
involved in numerous economic studies in Shanghai, China. As a
noted economist, Marie has earned acknowledgement from the World
Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development
Bank.

Minister of National Development Planning/Chairperson of the
National Planning Agency (Bappenas) Sri Mulyani Indrawati

Born in Tanjungkarang, Lampung, on Aug. 26, 1962, Mulyani
received her doctorate in economics from the University of
Illinois. She is an executive director of the International
Monetary Fund representing 12 economies in Southeast Asia. In
2001, Mulyani left for Atlanta, United States, to serve as a
consultant with the U.S. Aid Agency USAID for programs to
strengthen Indonesia's autonomy. She lectured on the Indonesian
economy at Georgia University. A prominent economist, Mulyani was
appointed a member of the National Economic Council during
Abdurrahman Wahid's administration.

Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyanto

Born on Oct. 5, 1959 in Serang, Banten, Anton obtained his
bachelors and masters degree from the Bogor Institute of
Agriculture (IPB). He later received his doctorate in food
chemistry at Reading University in Britain. He is currently a
full-time lecturer of food and nutrient technology at IPB, and a
guest lecturer with the National University of Singapore. Anton
claimed he did not know President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
personally or professionally, although the latter recently
obtained his doctorate from IPB.

State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto:

Born in Medan, North Sumatra, on April 20, 1955, Sugiharto
completed his bachelors degree in economics at the University of
Indonesia in 1986, and later received his masters from the
Amsterdam School of Management. Sugiharto is also a member of the
United Development Party (PPP). As chief financial officer at
publicly listed PT Medco Energy International, he is known to
have been behind the company's success and growth during the past
few years. Sugiarto spent nine years as a banker in the Chemical
Bank and Bankers Trust Company in New York before joining the
Medco Group.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro:

Born on June 16, 1951 in Semarang, Central Java, Purnomo
completed his undergraduate studies at the School of Engineering
at the Bandung Institute of Technology. He then pursued his
masters in 1986 and doctorate in 1988 in mineral and natural
resources at the Colorado School of Mines, the United States.
Purnomo was deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute
(Lemhannas) before former president Megawati Soekarnoputri
appointed him as the energy and mineral resources minister. A
father of three, he was advisor to the energy minister from 1993
to 1998, and a founder of the Indonesian Institute for Energy
Economics. Currently, he is also serving as president of the
Vienna-based Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC).

Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar

Born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Jan. 2, 1941, Jusuf completed
his masters degree in economics in 1978 at Vanderbilt University,
the United States. He later served as the Capital Market
Supervisory Agency chief in 1998. Two years later, Jusuf was
assigned as an executive director of the Manila-based Asian
Development Bank (ADB). Earlier in the 1990s, Jusuf was appointed
director of budget and foreign funds and secretary-general at the
Ministry of Finance. In addition to his expertise in financial
matters, he is also a legal expert and was active in the Ministry
of Justice.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie

Born in Jakarta on Nov. 15, 1946, Bakrie holds a degree in
electrical engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology.
He was elected president of the ASEAN Business Forum for two
consecutive periods from 1991 to 1995. Bakrie gained prominence
within the business community when he was elected chairman of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for two
consecutive terms from 1994 to 2004. Currently, he is an advisor
of Kadin. Aburizal is a noted businessman known for making PT
Bakrie and Brothers into one of the most successful firms in the
country. He also founded the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs
Organization in 1972.

Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban

Born in North Sumatra on Aug. 5, 1958, Kaban gained a masters
degree at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture in 1990. He later
became secretary-general of the Islamic-oriented Crescent Star
Party (PBB). Kaban regularly lectures in several universities in
Jakarta and Bogor. However, he has no specific educational
background in forestry. Kaban was active in a number of Islamic
organizations before joining PBB, which only gained two seats in
the House of Representatives in the April 4, 2004 legislative
elections.

Minister of Industry Andung Nitimiharja

Andung has been an expert staff of the investment and regional
autonomy department with the Office of State Minister of State
Enterprises since 2003. Born on April 4, 1950, he was also deputy
chairman of the national business development department at the
Capital Investment Coordinating Body during the chairmanship of
Theo F. Toemion from 2000 to 2001. A graduate of engineering from
the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Andung later took his masters
in economic and social development at the University of
Pittsburgh, and pursued a doctorate in development studies at the
same university. He is now a commissioner of state electricity
company PT PLN, PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia and PT Asuransi
Jasa Raharja.

State Minister of Communication and Information Sofyan A. Djalil

Born on Sept. 23, 1953 in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Sofyan
obtained his doctorate in law and diplomacy at Tufts University
Medford in Massachusetts in 1993. He has held various positions
in the academe and was an expert staff at the Ministry of
Justice. In 1998, he became an expert staff at the Office of
State Minister of State Enterprises until 2000. Sofyan was a
commissioner with several enterprises, including PT Pelindo III
and PT PLN. Currently, he is also a managing partner at Sofyan
Djalil and Partners.

Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto

Born on July 5, 1943 in Penging, Central Java, Djoko graduated
from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and completed his
masters in land and water development at IHE-DELFT in the
Netherlands in 1977. He was appointed in 1997 as assistant to the
residential development department head at the Ministry of Public
Works during the Soeharto administration. Since 2001, he has held
the post of director general of residential affairs at the
Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin

Born in Pare-pare, South Sulawesi, on Oct. 5, 1962, Hamid
attended the province's Hasanuddin University. He was a judiciary
observer before working for the General Elections Commission
(KPU). As a student, he was actively involved in the Muhammadiyah
Students association and the Association of Islamic Students
(HMI) in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. He is
close to Jusuf Kalla, who hails from the same province.

Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman

Born in Bandung, West Java, on May 1, 1954. Kusmayanto has been a
rector at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) since October
2001. He earned a Ph.D from the Australian National University in
1988. He has been active in the Europe-Southeast Asia University
Network since 1999.

State Minister of Administrative Reforms Taufik Effendi

Born in Barabai regency, South Kalimantan, on April 12, 1941,
Taufik started his career as a member of the police intelligence
unit and was later chosen as a National Police expert staff
member. He was elected a legislator from the Democratic Party,
which nominated Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for presidency, for the
2004-2009 term, representing South Kalimantan. He is deputy
secretary-general of the Democratic Party.

Minister of Health Fadilah Supari

Born in Surakarta, Central Java, on Nov. 6, 1949, Siti obtained a
Ph.D in cardiology from the University of Indonesia in 1996. She
has been working as a lecturer in cardiology at the University of
Indonesia. Siti has also been the head of the Central Data of
Research and Technology for Cardiac Therapy at Harapan Kita
Hospital since 1995.

Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo

Born in Temanggung regency, Central Java, on Oct. 8, 1952,
Bambang earned a Ph.D in business administration from the
University of Kentucky in 1985. He has been working as a lecturer
at Gadjah Mada University's School of Economics (1987-present).
Bambang, a professor, was a finance minister during Abdurrahman
Wahid's administration. A confidant of National Mandate Party
(PAN) Amien Rais, Bambang is a former chairman of the Indonesian
Economists Association (ISEI) and PAN treasurer.

Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah

Born in Sigli, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, on Dec. 31, 1945,
Bachtiar graduated from Medan State University in 1997. He was
the minister of social affairs in the last administration and was
United Development Party (PPP) deputy secretary-general between
1993 and 2003.

Minister of Religious Affairs Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni

Born in Rembang, Central Java, on Nov. 4, 1939, Maftuh graduated
from the Madinah Islamic University in Saudi Arabia in 1968. The
last position he holds now is Indonesian ambassador to Saudi
Arabia. Maftuh was a personal secretary of the Indonesian
ambassador to Saudi Arabia between 1976 and 1979.

He was the chairman of the Indonesian delegation in the 2004
ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Jeddah. He was state secretary in the Abdurrahman Wahid
administration.

State Minister of the Environment Rachmat Nadi Witoelar
Kartaadipoetra

Born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on June 2, 1941, Rachmat
graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology in 1970. He
served as Indonesian ambassador to Russia and Mongolia in 1993 to
1997. Rachmat has held various positions in the House of
Representatives, including chairman of House Commission V and
Commission VI. He was also Golkar Party secretary-general from
1988 to 1993.

State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Farida Hatta
Swasono

Born in Yogyakarta on March 21, 1947, Meutia earned a Ph.D in
anthropology from the University of Indonesia in 1991. She has
been working as a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's
School of Anthropology (1984-present). Meutia is the daughter of
the late Muhammad Hatta, the respected first vice president of
Indonesia. She has been a senior official at the Office of the
State Minister of Tourism and Culture since Dec. 23, 2003. She is
also chairwoman of the Hatta Foundation (2002-2005) and
chairwoman of the Ministry of Social Affairs' People's Welfare
Consultation Forum.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Abdurrahman
Shihab

Born in Rappang, South Sulawesi, on Aug. 19, 1946, Alwi earned a
Ph.D in philosophy from the Ain Syams University in Egypt in 1990
and a Ph.D from Temple University in the United States in 1995.
He is currently National Awakening Party leader (2002-2007). He
was an assistant to professors at Temple University (1993-1995)
and Harvard University (1998), the U.S. He also served as
minister of foreign affairs in the Abdurrahman Wahid
administration.

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris

Born in Jakarta, on Sept. 20, 1943, Fahmi graduated from the
University of Indonesia, majoring in economics. He was the deputy
chairman of the Golkar Party. Fahmi was a student activist before
becoming involved in politics. He started his political career as
the chairman of the Golkar Party's Business and Economic
Enterprise Department (1993-1998). He was manpower and
transmigration minister in the Habibie administration. He was
dismissed as the deputy chairman of Golkar last month for defying
the party's order to support the reelection bid of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri.