The Story Of Mahfud MD Appointed By Gus Dur To Become Defense Minister

Defense Minister Mahfud MD together with US Defense Minister William S. Cohen inspected troops at a ceremony at the Ministry of Defense, Jakarta, on September 18, 2000. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - No one doubts the existence of Mahfud MD as an Indonesian intellectual. Mahfud was not only hailed as an expert in constitutional law, but also as an important figure in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Those actions then made Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) attracted.

The 4th Indonesian president regretted the breadth of knowledge if it was only used in the classroom. Mahfud was appointed by Gus Dur to the prestigious position: Minister of Defense (Menhan). A position that requires high guts.

Education is the main way to hone sensitivity. A study that makes a person more sensitive to the affairs of the nation and state. Mahfud MD has also felt it. He who studied at the Faculty of Law, Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) is often called to defend the people.

He also chose the Islamic Student Association (HMI) as the mouthpiece for the fate of the Indonesian people in the 1970s. All of this was done by Mahfud because the New Order (Orba) government was increasingly suffering the people.

The activities of Mahfud and his friends have received support from here and there. The figure of Indonesian legal warrior, Artidjo Alkostar, who incidentally graduated from Mahfud, also supported him. However, Mahfud did not necessarily choose a career as a politician when he finished college.

Mahfud is the same as his lecturer, Artidjo actually chose to devote himself to the alma mater. Mahfud is active as a lecturer at UII, while he continues his S-2 education, to S-3 at Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

The series of education made Mahfud a professor at UII. Mahfud's achievements then drew praise. Many national figures consider Mahfud an intelligent intellectual. Mahfud is also known to be an important figure in NU.

A series of achievements made NU officials, Gus Dur attracted. Wahid Hasyim's son regretted that Mahfud's guts and knowledge were only spread through classrooms, Gus Dur wanted Mahfud's intelligence to be used for a greater purpose: managing Indonesia.

Mahfud MD is a senior politician who has a modernist and traditionalist background from Islamic activism. Mahfud is active in the modern Islamic student organization, HMI. He was also appointed chairman of the Islamic Student Association Alumni Corps (KAHMI) and became an important figure in NU.

"It is true that HMI is not an association of NU students, although many of its members, such as Mahfud himself, have an affiliation with NU. President Gus Dur, who was attracted by Mahfud's track record, then led him to become a prominent political figure," explained Syafiq Hasyim in the book The Shariatization of Indonesia (2023).

Gus Dur's admiration for Mahfud continues to be voiced. Even though Gus Dur later became the number one person in Indonesia since 1999. Gus Dur wanted Mahfud to take part in managing Indonesia. Instead of just asking Mahfud to join the National Awakening Party (PKB), Gus Dur actually asked him to hold a high position: the Minister of Defense.

Mahfud did not immediately accept Gus Dur's proposal. He tried to bid. Mahfud's consideration is simple. he considered himself not suitable for that position. Moreover, Mahfud does not have any background in military or military science.

Mahfud wants Gus Dur to put him in a controlled field, for example, constitutional law. Gus Dur answered Mahfud with all his heart. Gus Dur asked Mahfud to imitate him as President of Indonesia without any background. Everything is just a matter of guts and courage to take concrete actions.

Mahfud's Nyali was challenged. He officially served as Minister of Defense on August 26, 2000. Gus Dur also advised him that if there were difficult things in terms of exercising power, Mahfud was asked to study with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Social, and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

Gus Dur felt that SBY (Then became the 6th President of Indonesia) could be a good mentor for Mahfud. He followed this suggestion. Even then Mahfud became familiar with SBY. His various duties as Minister of Defense were carried out measurably. In fact, Mahfud dared to oppose Gus Dur in a condition that he thought was right.

The peak of Mahfud's Nyali led the Ministry of Defense as seen from his courage to cross opinion with the US Ambassador, Robert Sidney Gelbard. Mahfud dared to accuse Gelbard of trying to influence the election of the Head of the Army Unit (KASAD) TNI.

Another conflict that caught the attention was Mahfud's courage to force the US spy Aoron Ward Mannes to be deported. The series of conflicts made Mahfud's name skyrocket. It could be Mahfud's position as Minister of Defense for a short time (August 26, 2000-20 July 2001), but quite a impression.

Another conflict between Ambassador Gelbard and Defense Minister Mahfud occurred when security forces arrested Aaron Ward Mannes for spying activities. Mannes was charged with trying to disrupt the situation and related to riots in Papua. Due to this action, Mannes was deported through Soekarno-Hatta airport. However, shortly before being deported, Ambassador Gelbart took it and then took it to the US Embassy.

The US Embassy on October 2, 2000 also denied that it would impose economic embargo sanctions on Indonesia regarding the Atambua case. The issue of this economic embargo emerged when US Defense Minister William Cohen visited Indonesia moments after the riots took place in Atambua. He threatened the US would impose economic sanctions if Indonesia did not completely resolve the riots in Atambua that killed three UNHCR employees, said Poltak Partogi Nainggolan in the book Transition and the Kandas of Post-Soeharto Democratic Consolidation (2021).