Abdul Latief is the founder of one of the largest Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

n retailers Pasaraya department store and of television channel Lativi. He is the former Indonesian minister of labor in the Soeharto era.

Early life

Abdul Latief was born on April 27, 1940 in Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 35 meters. The city regency covers an area of 64 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 219,070 people...

, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. He was bought up according Muslim

Muslim

A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 and Minangkabau traditions. Latief's father was a textile trader and his mother was an activist in Aisyiyah (a part of the Muhammadiyah

Muhammadiyah

Muhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad"...

 Islamic organization). In 1950, Latief's family moved from Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 35 meters. The city regency covers an area of 64 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 219,070 people...

 to Jakarta

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...

.

While at school, he performed well enough academically to become the best student. After graduating, Latief worked as head of promotion in the Sarinah department store. He also attended in-store management courses in Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. In 1972, Latief founded the Young Indonesian Entrepreneur Community, known as HIPMI, and he was elected as leader in 1972 - 1973.

Business career

After working for about nine years in department stores, in 1972 Latief decided he wanted to own a department store, but had to settle for a variety store. Starting from a mini store in Grogol

Grogol Petamburan

Grogol Petamburan is a subdistrict of West Jakarta, Indonesia, roughly bounded by the West Flood Canal to the east, Angke Canal to the west and to the north, and Jakarta-Merak Tollway to the south....

, Jakarta

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...

, Latief and his brother, Abdul Muthalib, founded PT Latief Marda Corporation. Two years later, they founded PT Indonesia Product Centre Sarinah Jaya, with brand name Pasaraya. In 2001, Latief expanded his business into television , by establishing the Lativi television channel. Latief is also involves in the property business with the La Piaza development in Kelapa Gading

Kelapa Gading

Kelapa Gading is the southernmost Subdistrict of North Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Subdistrict of Kelapa Gading is bounded by Bekasi Raya - Perintis Kemerdekaan Road to the south, Sunter Canal to the west, Bendungan Batik Canal to the north, and Cakung - Petukangan River to the east...

, North Jakarta

North Jakarta

North Jakarta is one of the five cities of Jakarta, Indonesia. North Jakarta contains the entire coastal area within Jakarta Special District. In North Jakarta, an area at the estuary of Ciliwung river was the main port for the kingdom of Tarumanegara, which will later grows to become Jakarta....

. Today, all of his business in retailing, media, property, advertising, finance and agrobusiness are grouped in the Latief Corporation.

Political career

As well as being a prominent businessman, Latief is former Indonesian minister of labor. In 1993, Latief was chosen as a minister in Soeharto's cabinet. During his term of office, the government approved the regional minimum salary for labor, known as 'Upah Minimum Regional'. He was the Tourism, Art and Culture Minister.