Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana

Siti Hardijanti Rukmana
23 Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
In office
March 14, 1998 – May 21, 1998
President Soeharto
Preceded by Endang Kusuma Inten Soeweno
Succeeded by Justika Baharsjah
Personal details
Born January 23, 1949
 Indonesia
Political party Golkar
Spouse(s) Indra Rukmana
Children Dandy Nugroho Hendro Maryanto
Danty Indriastuti Purnamasari
Danny Bimo Hendro Utomo
Parents Soeharto and Siti Hartinah
Religion Islam

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (born January 23, 1949, or Mbak Tutut as she is more familiarly known in Indonesia) is the eldest daughter of former Indonesian President Suharto. She is named after Suharto's late wife Siti Hartinah.

Business career

Tutut built part of her fortune as a major shareholder of the Citra Lamtoro Gung Group, with interests in more than 90 companies ranging from telecommunications to infrastructure, including tollway projects in Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. Time magazine in a May 1999 cover story titled Suharto Inc. estimated her wealth at $700 million.[1]

In January 2000, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) confiscated land assets valued at Rp 216.8 billion of PT Sinar Slipi Sejahtera (SSS) and owned by Tutut. The land has been mortgaged by PT SSS to Bapindo as collateral.[2] On 19 February 2001, Tutut was banned from leaving Indonesia for one year due to corruption allegations. The legal move on Indonesia's former first family was due to a promise by President Abdurrahman Wahid to prosecute those responsible for corruption during Suharto's 32 years in power.[3]

Political career

Tutut served as deputy chairperson of Golkar from 1993-98. Suharto appointed her as Social Affairs Minister in March 1998 in his short-lived final cabinet. It was believed he had been grooming her as his successor.[4] Following Suharto's fall in May 1998, Golkar in July announced it had recalled Tutut, her brothers Bambang Trihatmodjo and Hutomo 'Tommy' Mandala Putra and Bambang's wife Halimah from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).[5]

Golkar officials in 2008 said they would not object to Suharto's children, especially Tutut, rejoining the party's board, provided they were not involved in any outstanding legal cases.[6] Golkar Deputy Secretary General Rully Chairul Anwar said Tutut, Bambang Trihatmodjo and their sister Siti Hediati Hariyadi were still listed as Golkar members albeit as non-active members.[7]

2004 presidential election

Tutut planned to run for the presidency in the 2004 presidential election on the ticket of the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).[8] But she was ineligible to run because of PKPB's poor performance in the 2004 general election. The party won only 2.1% of the popular vote, giving it just two seats in the House of Representatives (DPR). At that time, political parties needed to receive at least 5% of the popular vote or 3% of seats in the DPR to field a presidential candidate, or they could form a coalition with other parties. The election was ultimately won by former General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, defeating popular incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri.

References

  1. ↑ "Suharto Inc.". Time magazine. May 24, 1999.
  2. ↑ www.highbeam.com
  3. ↑ "Suharto daughter faces corruption probe". BBC News. February 20, 2001.
  4. ↑ Friend, Theodore. Indonesian Destinies. p. 325.
  5. ↑ "Suharto's relatives recalled from people's assembly". July 17, 1998.
  6. ↑ "Golkar Siap Tampung Tutut". February 8, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Tutut, Titiek & Bambang Masih Anggota Golkar". November 14, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Tutut may join presidential race". The Jakarta Post. May 8, 2004.

Further reading