Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana

Summary

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (born 23 January 1949), known as Tutut Suharto, is an Indonesian politician who is the eldest daughter of former Indonesian president Suharto and the wife of Global Mediacom (then known as Bimantara Citra) co-founder and former RCTI's commissioner Indra Rukmana.

Siti Hardijanti Rukmana
First Lady of Indonesia
Acting
In role
28 April 1996 – 21 May 1998
PresidentSuharto
Preceded bySiti Hartinah
Succeeded byHasri Ainun Habibie
23rd Minister of Social Affairs of Indonesia
In office
14 March 1998 – 21 May 1998
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byKusuma Inten Soeweno
Succeeded byJustika Baharsjah
Personal details
Born (1949-01-23) 23 January 1949 (age 75)
Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
Political partyBerkarya
SpouseIndra Rukmana
Children4
Parents

Business career edit

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. Most of Indonesia’s toll roads were built and operated by the stateowned firm Jasa Marga, with untold markups and opportunities for skimming and theft for oligarchs as the projects were completed. In 1989, Suharto issued a decree granting his daughter Tutut 75% of profits from all toll roads her group operated jointly with Jasa Marga, driving costs up still further.[1] Time magazine in a May 1999 cover story titled Suharto Inc. estimated her wealth at $700 million.[2]

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.[3] On February 19, 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.[4]

Political career edit

Tutut served as deputy chairperson of Golkar from 1993–98. Following the death of her mother in 1996, she was regarded as the first lady of Indonesia. In addition, 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.[5] Following his father'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).[6]

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.[7] Golkar Deputy Secretary General Rully Chairul Anwar said Tutut, Bambang Trihatmodjo and their sister Titiek Suharto were still listed as Golkar members albeit as non-active members.[8]

Presidential aspirations edit

Tutut planned to run for the presidency in the 2004 presidential election on the ticket of the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).[9] 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 Soekarnoputri.

In Indonesia's 2009 general election, PKPB won only 1.4% of the popular vote, losing its two seats in parliament and failing to qualify for the 2014 general election.[10]

Honours edit

  •   Star of Mahaputera, 4th Class (Indonesian: Bintang Mahaputera Pratama) (11 August 1997) [11]

References edit

  1. ^ Jeffrey A. Winters (April 18, 2011). Oligarchy. Cambridge University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-139-49564-6.
  2. ^ "Suharto Inc". Time magazine. May 24, 1999.
  3. ^ IBRA seizes assets of Tutut Suharto.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included). Indonesian Investment Highlights. January 1, 2000
  4. ^ "Suharto daughter faces corruption probe". BBC News. February 20, 2001.
  5. ^ Friend, Theodore (July 2009). Indonesian Destinies. p. 325. ISBN 9780674037359.
  6. ^ "Suharto's relatives recalled from people's assembly". July 17, 1998.
  7. ^ "Golkar Siap Tampung Tutut". February 8, 2008.
  8. ^ "Tutut, Titiek & Bambang Masih Anggota Golkar". November 14, 2008.
  9. ^ "Tutut may join presidential race". The Jakarta Post. May 8, 2004.
  10. ^ Tom Lansford (March 24, 2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press. pp. 2794–. ISBN 978-1-4833-7155-9.
  11. ^ Daftar WNI yang Mendapat Tanda Kehormatan Bintang Mahaputera tahun 1959 s.d. 2003 (PDF). Retrieved December 19, 2020.

Further reading edit

  • (2004) Mbak Tutut : Hj. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana : membangun bangsa menuju ketenteraman dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Jakarta: Institute for Justice and Peace
Political offices
Preceded by
Kusuma Inten Soeweno
Minister of Social Affairs
1998
Succeeded by
Justika Baharsjah
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of Indonesia
(acting)

28 April 1996 – 21 May 1998
Succeeded by