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.