Ali Wardhana
Official portrait
Official portrait, c. 1973
3rd Coordinating Minister for Economics, Finance, Industry, and Development of Indonesia
In office
19 March 1983 – 21 March 1988
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byWidjojo Nitisastro
Succeeded byRadius Prawiro
21st Minister of Finance of Indonesia
In office
6 June 1968 – 19 March 1983
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byFrans Seda
Succeeded byRadius Prawiro
Personal details
Born(1928-05-06)6 May 1928
Surakarta, Central Java, Dutch East Indies
Died14 September 2015(2015-09-14) (aged 87)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Resting placeTanah Kusir Cemetery
CitizenshipIndonesian
Political partyGolkar
SpouseRendasih
Children4
Parent
  • Aliman (father)
RelativesAli Sastroamidjojo (uncle)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Indonesia
University of California, Berkeley
Occupation

Prof. Dr. Ali Wardhana (6 May 1928 – 14 September 2015), more colloquially known as Bung Ali, was an Indonesian professor and economist, who served as the third Coordinating Minister for Economics, Finance, Industry, and Development of Indonesia from 1983 until 1988 and the 21st minister of finance of Indonesia from 1968 until 1983. He was one of Indonesia's most senior economic policy-makers during the New Order regime of president Suharto,[2] being a member of the influential Berkeley Mafia, a group of American educated Indonesian economists who shaped the Indonesian economy during the New Order.[3] He was the longest serving Minister of Finance, as well as the fifth longest serving minister in Indonesian history.[4]

He was born on 6 May 1928, in the city of Surakarta. He studied economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Indonesia (UI) in 1958. Subsequently earned a Master of Arts in 1961 and doctorate in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.[5] He returned to Indonesia in 1967, and was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics of UI, replacing Widjojo Nitisastro. Less than one year later, he became Minister of Finance in the First Development Cabinet of Indonesian president Suharto. As finance minister, he tackled rising inflation, reducing it to 10% in 1969, from a high 650% in 1966. He also liked to conduct unannounced inspections and managed to apprehend corrupt officials and smugglers. Under his leadership, there were two devaluations of the Rupiah, which occurred in 1977 and 1978.

In 1983, he was transferred to the position of Coordinating Minister for Economics, Finance, Industry, and Development of Indonesia in the Fourth Development Cabinet, replacing Radius Prawiro, who took over as finance minister. After leaving government in 1988, Ali continued to advise the government on its economic and financial policies. Ali died at Medistra Hospital, Jakarta on September 14, 2015. Before he died, Ali had been hospitalized for three weeks. His body was interred at the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery, instead of the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.[6]

Early life and education

His hometown of Surakarta, more commonly known as Solo

Ali Wardhana was born on 6 May 1928,[7] in the city of Surakarta, more commonly known as Solo. His mother died when he was almost five years old. His father, Aliman, would remarry to a woman named Bulik, Ali's aunt.[8] Ali's childhood was mainly spent in Surakarta. Ali moved around several times. Around this time, he reportedly resided in the house of his uncle, Ali Sastroamidjojo, an Indonesian nationalist and statesman, who would go on to become Prime Minister of Indonesia. His childhood home has now become a shop.[1]

Growing up, Ali did not receive a formal education. Instead, he was homeschooled by his stepmother, Bulik. Though, he eventually entered formal schooling in 1930, and was immediately placed in the fifth grade of the People's School (now the equivalent of elementary school).[8] He went to the University of Indonesia (UI), and initially studied medicine for a year. However, he withdrew from the faculty, after being cut off by his parents. He continued to study at UI, but changed faculties. Choosing the Faculty of Economics, as it provided scholarships. Despite receiving a scholarship, he worked a couple odd jobs on the side, working at a travel service provider's office.[1]

During his time in UI, he was taught by foreign lecturers from the Netherlands about economics, as the only native economist with a economics doctorate, was Sumitro Djojohadikusumo. However, as tensions grew between Indonesia and the Dutch Government over the West New Guinea dispute, Dutch lecturers began to leave the country. Resulting in UI turning to the Ford Foundation for assistance. The Ford Foundation then began a process where students from UI were chosen to undertake overseas studies at the University of California, Berkeley.[9] After finishing his studies at UI in 1958, and having a short stint as a lecturer at UI, where he was known to be an expert in the fields of macroeconomics and monetary policy, and was able to explain the material briefly and clearly, he was then sent abroad to continue his studies at the University of California, Berkeley.[10][11]

Ali continued his master's education at the University of California, Berkeley, United States. With the costs of his education being fully funded through the scholarship he received from the Ford Foundation.[9] While in the United States, Ali was particularly interested in fiscal and monetary studies. He managed to complete not only his master's program, but also his doctoral program and Master of Arts degree, while in Berkeley.[10] A year later, Ali received a Doctor of Philosophy in 1962, with the dissertation title "Monetary Policy in an Underdeveloped Economy with Special Reference to Indonesia" (1962).[11] During his time in Berkeley, he was supported by a number of friends, including J.B. Sumarlin and Emil Salim, both fellow future ministers in the New Order.[10]

Finance minister

Appointment

He returned to Indonesia in 1967, and was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Indonesia, replacing Widjojo Nitisastro. Less than one year later, Ali Wardhana became Minister of Finance in the First Development cabinet of Indonesian president Suharto. Becoming the youngest finance minister in Indonesian history. This has resulted the media even pinning him the title "menteri ingusan" which roughly translates to "don't know anything minister."[12][13]

In an English-language book entitled "A Tribute to Ali Wardhana, Indonesia's Longest Serving Finance Minister: From His Writing and His Colleagues" published by Kompas, which was released to commemorate Ali Wardhana's 87th Anniversary, there is one story when President Suharto summoned Ali and asked him to become finance minister.

"When Suharto's first cabinet was formed, Pak Harto called me to become Minister of Finance. I immediately came to see him and said that I couldn't become Minister of Finance. Pak Harto looked at me and said "You think I want to be president? I've never been president. You have never been the Minister of Finance. So don't worry, we learn together," said Ali.[14]

Tenure

Early on after his appointment, he was tasked with tackling the high inflation rate, which reportedly caused stress and caused him to not sleep well. At the time, inflation had reached a high of 650% in 1966. He was successful at tackling high inflation, with inflation falling from 650% in 1966, to 112% in 1967, to 85% in 1968, to 10% in 1969 under his tenure.[12]

As finance minister, he began a crusade against illegal levies and extortion, together Minister of State Control of State Apparatus (currently Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform) J.B. Sumarli. At the time illegal levies occurred in State Treasurer's Office. J.B. Sumarlin even disguised himself as a staff a work unit named Ahmad Sidik to discover the practice of extortion. After that incident, nobody else dared to collect illegal levies.[12]

Death and legacy

Ali died at Medistra Hospital, Jakarta on September 14, 2015, at 15:30 WIB. Before he died, Ali was treated for three weeks.[12][15]

Work with government

A brief summary of Ali Wardhana's career is as follows:[16][17]

Honours

National Honours

Foreign Honours

Personal life

Ali Wardhana married a woman named Rendasih (d. 2000), nicknamed Renny, who was a school teacher from Bandung. Together they had four children, Isyana Ika Wardhana, Mahendra Wardhana, Pradjnawita Wardhana, and Pradjanamita Wardhana.[12]

Writings

  • Monetary Budget: A Tool for Stabilization or Inflation
  • Economic and Social Institutions (1966)
  • Economic Development and the Availability of Special Funds
  • Statement at the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (1969)
  • Concessional Loans and Technical Assistance
  • Statement at the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (1970).[19]

Further reading

  • Mari Pangestu (editor), 2015. A tribute to Ali Wardhana, Indonesia's longest serving finance minister: From his writings and his colleagues, Penerbit Buku Kompas, Jakarta. ISBN 978-979-70993-5-0
  • Marzuki Usman, 2017. Prof. Dr. Ali Wardhana: Pembaharu Kebijakan Moneter dan Fiskal di Indonesia [Prof. Dr Ali Wardhana: Reformer of Monetary and Fiscal Policy in Indonesia], PP ISEI, Jakarta. ISBN 978-602-14722-2-4

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Media Keuangan 2019, p. 37.
    2. ↑ Media Keuangan 2019, pp. 42.
    3. ↑ McCawley, Peter (2011). "Widjojo Nitisastro and Indonesian development". Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies. 47 (1): 87–103. doi:10.1080/00074918.2011.556061. ISSN 0007-4918.
    4. ↑ Farid, Muhammad (2015). "Ali Wardhana: The Legacy of Indonesia's Economic Legend". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
    5. ↑ "Prof. Dr. Ali Wardhana Terima Penghargaan Wirakarya Adhitama". Universitas Indonesia (in Indonesian). 10 June 2014.
    6. ↑ Media Keuangan 2019, p. 41.
    7. ↑ Pribadi, Galih Setyo (2015). "Profil – Ali Wardhana" [Profile – Ali Wardhana]. www.merdeka.com (Website) (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
    8. 1 2 Media Keuangan 2019, p. 36.
    9. 1 2 Ford Foundation (2007). "An Evening with the Technocrats". Ford Foundation (Website). Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
    10. 1 2 3 Media Keuangan 2019, p. 38.
    11. 1 2 Media Keuangan 2019, p. 18.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Edisi khusus : Ali Wardhana" (PDF). Media Keuangan (Financial Media). Ministry of Finance (Indonesia). October 2019. ISSN 1907-6320.
    13. ↑ "Arti Kata Ingusan Adalah – Sedang Populer". Retrieved 19 September 2021.
    14. ↑ Muslimah, Salmah. "Kisah Ali Wardhana, Pernah Menolak Jadi Menkeu dan Religius di Usia Senja". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
    15. ↑ Rastika, Icha (14 September 2015). Ali, Fidel (ed.). "JK Dijadwalkan Melayat Almarhum Ali Wardhana Pagi Ini". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
    16. ↑ Oebsger-Röder, Rudolf; Mahmud, Mahiddin (1980). Who's who in Indonesia : biographies of prominent Indonesian personalities in all fields (2nd ed.). Singapore: Gunung Agung. OCLC 559071932.
    17. ↑ Susanto, Ready (2011). Mari mengenal kabinet Indonesia. Jakarta: Lazuardi Buku Utama. ISBN 978-602-97840-0-8. OCLC 719409850.
    18. 1 2 3 4 "Ali Wardhana, architect of New Order economy, laid to rest". The Jakarta Post. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
    19. ↑ "Ali Wardhana". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
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