Aburizal Bakrie: No more waltz?

Aburizal Bakrie, coordinating minister for economic affairs, would turn 59, next week. Want to give birthday gift?

I am sure he is expecting great gift from president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono i.e. maintain his position as chief economic minister. Or at least lower prestigious post like minister of trade affairs should the president reshuffle the cabinet as been promised.

He is blamed for poor economic condition, growing business nepotism, and people’s miseries over the fuel price hike. His is the main target of a cabinet reshuffle. But with his strong financial and political backup, it is not easy for the president to simply kick him out of the cabinet.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who also the chairman of Golkary Party, is his main supporter. But in the last few months he managed to have other leading political figures behind him. National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Sutrisno Bachir is one of them.

A simple knock out would be dangerous for the president himself as it could intensify competition with Kalla. But keep him in the post could cost the president’s popular support. A modest solution would be likely i.e. moving Aburizal to other cabinet post. Sources at the State Palace said Aburizal might be appointed trade affairs minister, still a high-profile ministry dealing with international trade issues, one of his favorites.

Who is Aburizal anyway?

Aburizal was born in Jakarta November 15, 1946 from the late businessman Achmad Bakrie who established PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, one of the largest conglomerates during Soeharto’s 32-year in power. The family lost control over the listed diversified group after a debt restructuring in early 2000. But it regained the control recently and resumed its expansive style in the last few months.

Husband of Taty Murniatriaty and father of three (Anindya Noverdian, Anindhita Anestia, and Anindra Ardiansyah), Ical (popularly called) was one of five contenders in Golkar Party’s selection of presidential candidate last year. Despite his strong financial support, Ical lost the race to retired general Wiranto.

Ical led Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for almost a decade. He was graduated from Bandung Institute of Technology in 1973 majoring electronic and electricity technology.

As the oldest, he led the Bakrie family business with siblings Roosmania Helanbudi Kusmulyono (husband of BS Kusmulyono, commissioner at state-owned PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk, appointed few months ago), Nirwan Bakrie, and Indra Usmansyah Bakrie.

As reported to Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) last year, Ical has personal wealth of Rp1.19 trillion (almost US$200 million) and debt of US$35 million. He is the wealthiest person in the cabinet.

Thanks to his good habit of three hours of sport every day, Ical looks younger than his age. He hates smoking and easily angry whenever spotted his smoking staffs. He loves singing romantic songs the most. He likes little bit waltz and cha-cha, but not a regular dancer. “I only dance whenever someone asking me for a company,” he said.

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