Indonesian businesswoman and politician
Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (née Hastuti; 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. She is a former minister of social affairs and a former member of the People's Consultative Assembly, representing Golkar from 1992 to 1998.
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. Most of Indonesia’s toll roads were built and operated by the stateowned firm Jasa Marga, and 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] When Suharto resigned in 1998, his family was alleged to control over 500 companies and have assets exceeding $1 billion.[3] An investigation by TIME Asia noted there was no evidence the money had been obtained illegally.[3][4][5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
Political career
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 final cabinet.[8] Following her father's resignation as president 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).[9]
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.[10] 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.[11]
Presidential aspirations
Tutut planned to run for the presidency in the 2004 presidential election on the ticket of the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB),[12] 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 incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
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.[13]
Honours
References
Further reading
- (2004) Mbak Tutut : Hj. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana : membangun bangsa menuju ketenteraman dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Jakarta: Institute for Justice and Peace
