Fahmi Idris' Profile, From Entrepreneur To Politic And Become Minister In Habibie's Government Era

Senior Golkar Party Politician Fahmi Idris/Antara

JAKARTA - The political world is in mourning. Senior Golkar Party politician Fahmi Idris died today. This sad news was conveyed by Fahmi Idris' daughter, Fahira Idris.

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un. Mr. Prof. H. Fahmi Idris bin Idris Marah Bagindo," said Fahira in the Instagram social media account @fahiraidris, quoted on Sunday, May 22.

Fahmi is an Indonesian politician, businessman, and former minister. Fahmi was born on September 20, 1943 in Jakarta when Indonesia was still colonized by Japan. Both of his parents are immigrants from Minangkabau.

He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia in 1969. In this campus with a yellow alma mater, Fahmi is known as a tenacious and agile activist. He has held several positions at the campus, including as Chair of the Senate of the UI Faculty of Economics for the period 1965-1966.

Fahmi started his career as an entrepreneur in 1966. At that time, Fahmi founded Kwarta Daya Pratama. Then, in 1979, Fahmi served as President Director of Kongsi Eight (Kodel Group), a conglomerate company he founded with Aburizal Bakrie, Abdul Latief, Pontjo Sutowo, and Soegeng Sarjadi.

In the 1980s, the company grew quite large. Kodel manages agribusiness, trade, banking, oil, and hotels. Then in 1988, Kodel built The Regent Hotel, which is currently named Four Seasons Jakarta. His property business is not only in Jakarta, but also extends to Beverly Hills, California. There, Fahmi is also a hotel, Regent Beverly Whilshire.

Success as an entrepreneur, Fahmi began to be interested in entering the world of politics. He started his political career by joining the Golkar Party in 1984. He immediately joined the campaign with Ali Moertopo and Abdul Latief in West Sumatra. In 1998-2004, Fahmi served as Chairman of the Golkar DPP in Jakarta.

Fahmi was appointed as the Minister of Manpower in the Development Reform Cabinet in the era of the BJ Habibie administration.

His political career did not go smoothly. In 2004, Fahmi was fired from Golkar membership, because he opposed the results of the Party Leadership Meeting in favor of Megawati-Hasyim Muzadi as presidential and vice-presidential candidates. At that time, Fahmi even supported the pair Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla.

After the pair was elected, Fahmi was re-appointed as Minister of Manpower, before finally being reshuffled to become Minister of Industry. His name was rehabilitated, and general chairman Jusuf Kalla pulled him back into the party. In addition to sitting in various professional and business positions, he now also serves as a Member of the Advisory Council of the Golkar Party.

In 2016, Fahmi was also in the public spotlight for asking Saut Situmorang, who at that time served as Deputy Chairman of the KPK, to step down from his position and be prosecuted. This was because Fahmi felt offended by Saut's statement that the HMI level who had passed the I leadership training was a corrupt and evil figure.

For your information, Fahmi's body will be buried at the Funeral Home, Mampang Prapatan IV Number 20, South Jakarta. The plan is that Fahmi's body will be buried in Tanah Kusir, South Jakarta.