Syahrir
Encyclopedia
Syahrir was a prominent Indonesian political economist. He was officially appointed by President of the Republic of Indonesia
, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
as Economic Adviser in the Council of Presidential Advisers on 11 April 2007. As a student activist, he was once sentenced to jail during the Malari demonstration
in 1974.
, Central Java
, on the 24 February 1945. Syahrir (nicknamed: Ciil) was born as the only child to the Ma’amoen Al Rasyid and Roesma Malik couple, both from the village of Koto Gedang in West Sumatra
. His father was a high-ranking government official in Central Java during the Dutch colonial time
, while his mother was an official at the Inspectorate of Women Education, Department of Education.(Mangiang et al. 1995)
Syahrir received his early childhood education in a public school in Jakarta
; he also spent a year in the Dalton School Elementary School, Amsterdam
. He continued his study to a Catholic
high school, Canisius College
in Jakarta. It was there that he discovered his love for economics
. From Canisius College, he was enrolled at the University of Indonesia
, where he studied economics.
During his study in the university, he became active in the Djakarta Students Association (Ikatan Mahasiswa Djakarta or IMADA), a student union. His involvement at IMADA made him appointed as the head of United Actions of Indonesian Students (Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia or KAMI). Meanwhile, his activities in intra university organization made him appointed as a General Secretary of Students Senate, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia.
Historically, the student body at University of Indonesia had some significant roles in the country’s political movement. In 1974, students demonstrated against the government’s policy regarding the role of foreign investment in Indonesia. The demonstration somehow led to a riot—the incident is known as Malari
. Syahrir, who was just graduated as a Bachelor in Economics from the Faculty of Economy, University of Indonesia and was getting ready to leave the country for a master degree scholarship at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
, was arrested, tried and sentenced to 6 and a half years of prison for subversion
and his involvement in Malari. However, he only spent almost 4 years in jail as political detainee.
After getting out of the prison, Ford Foundation
, the sponsor of his scholarship, still granted him the opportunity to pursue his master degree. He graduated from Harvard University with a Ph.D. degree in Political Economy & Government in 1983. It was in Harvard that he became friends with Ninoy Aquino
and Kim Dae Jung
. He returned to Jakarta in the same year and became a lecturer in his former faculty, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia.
Later, he founded an organization called Institute for Economic and Financial Research (Ecfin) with his fellow economists. One of them was Mari Elka Pangestu, the current Indonesian Minister of Trade. He also founded another organization called Yayasan Padi & Kapas, which focuses on research, education & public health. During this time, he was active as a consultant and advisor for state banks and public companies.
In 2001, during the Reformation era, Syahrir founded the New Indonesia Alliance (Perhimpunan Indonesia Baru). The main activity of the Alliance is to organize a cabinet watch. The cabinet watch’s task is to monitor the government’s decisions on certain policies and then to announce the result of the observations to the public.
Syahrir is known as an economist and as a politician. In 2002, he founded the New Indonesia Alliance Party (Partai Perhimpunan Indonesia Baru) as his effort in offering a solution to the turbulent country. At the 2004 legislative elections
, the party won 0.6% of the popular vote and no seats in the National People's Representative Council
. He step down as chairman of the party when the 2004 elected president of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, appointed Syahrir as Economic Advisor to the President. Syahrir’s responsibility as Economic Advisor to the President includes being special envoys to other countries, fulfilling presidential missions.
Syahrir died on July 28, 2008 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. He had an advanced stage of lung cancer
. He was buried in the Tanah Kusir Cemetery, Jakarta, on July 29, 2008
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...
, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
as Economic Adviser in the Council of Presidential Advisers on 11 April 2007. As a student activist, he was once sentenced to jail during the Malari demonstration
Malari incident
The Malari incident was a student demonstration and riot that happened from 15 to 16 January 1974. In reaction to a state visit by Japan Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments...
in 1974.
Biography
He was born in KudusKudus
Kudus is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Kudus. It is located east of Semarang, capital of Central Java.-History:...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, on the 24 February 1945. Syahrir (nicknamed: Ciil) was born as the only child to the Ma’amoen Al Rasyid and Roesma Malik couple, both from the village of Koto Gedang in West Sumatra
West Sumatra
West Sumatra is a province of Indonesia. It lies on the west coast of the island Sumatra. It borders the provinces of North Sumatra to the north, Riau and Jambi to the east, and Bengkulu to the southeast. It includes the Mentawai Islands off the coast...
. His father was a high-ranking government official in Central Java during the Dutch colonial time
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, while his mother was an official at the Inspectorate of Women Education, Department of Education.(Mangiang et al. 1995)
Syahrir received his early childhood education in a public school in 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...
; he also spent a year in the Dalton School Elementary School, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. He continued his study to a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high school, Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
in Jakarta. It was there that he discovered his love for economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. From Canisius College, he was enrolled at the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
, where he studied economics.
During his study in the university, he became active in the Djakarta Students Association (Ikatan Mahasiswa Djakarta or IMADA), a student union. His involvement at IMADA made him appointed as the head of United Actions of Indonesian Students (Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia or KAMI). Meanwhile, his activities in intra university organization made him appointed as a General Secretary of Students Senate, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia.
Historically, the student body at University of Indonesia had some significant roles in the country’s political movement. In 1974, students demonstrated against the government’s policy regarding the role of foreign investment in Indonesia. The demonstration somehow led to a riot—the incident is known as Malari
Malari
Malari is a small village located in the Bali tehsil of Pali district of Rajasthan state, amidst the Aravalli Range. It comes under the Gram Panchayat Shivtalao, near Mundara....
. Syahrir, who was just graduated as a Bachelor in Economics from the Faculty of Economy, University of Indonesia and was getting ready to leave the country for a master degree scholarship at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, was arrested, tried and sentenced to 6 and a half years of prison for subversion
Subversion
Apache Subversion is a software versioning and a revision control system distributed under a free license. Developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation...
and his involvement in Malari. However, he only spent almost 4 years in jail as political detainee.
After getting out of the prison, Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, the sponsor of his scholarship, still granted him the opportunity to pursue his master degree. He graduated from Harvard University with a Ph.D. degree in Political Economy & Government in 1983. It was in Harvard that he became friends with Ninoy Aquino
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
and Kim Dae Jung
Kim Dae Jung
Kim Dae-jung was President of South Korea from 1998 to 2003, and the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. He came to be called the "Nelson Mandela of Asia" for his long-standing opposition to authoritarian rule.-Early life:...
. He returned to Jakarta in the same year and became a lecturer in his former faculty, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia.
Later, he founded an organization called Institute for Economic and Financial Research (Ecfin) with his fellow economists. One of them was Mari Elka Pangestu, the current Indonesian Minister of Trade. He also founded another organization called Yayasan Padi & Kapas, which focuses on research, education & public health. During this time, he was active as a consultant and advisor for state banks and public companies.
In 2001, during the Reformation era, Syahrir founded the New Indonesia Alliance (Perhimpunan Indonesia Baru). The main activity of the Alliance is to organize a cabinet watch. The cabinet watch’s task is to monitor the government’s decisions on certain policies and then to announce the result of the observations to the public.
Syahrir is known as an economist and as a politician. In 2002, he founded the New Indonesia Alliance Party (Partai Perhimpunan Indonesia Baru) as his effort in offering a solution to the turbulent country. At the 2004 legislative elections
Elections in Indonesia
Elections in Indonesia have taken place since 1955. At a national level, Indonesian people elect a head of state – the president – and a legislature...
, the party won 0.6% of the popular vote and no seats in the National People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
. He step down as chairman of the party when the 2004 elected president of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, appointed Syahrir as Economic Advisor to the President. Syahrir’s responsibility as Economic Advisor to the President includes being special envoys to other countries, fulfilling presidential missions.
Syahrir died on July 28, 2008 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. He had an advanced stage of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He was buried in the Tanah Kusir Cemetery, Jakarta, on July 29, 2008