Nurdin Abdullah

Nurdin Abdullah
8th Governor of South Sulawesi
In office
5 September 2018 – 26 February 2021
DeputyAndi Sudirman Sulaiman
Preceded bySyahrul Yasin Limpo
Succeeded byAndi Sudirman Sulaiman
Regent of Bantaeng
In office
15 August 2008 – 15 August 2018
DeputyAndi Asli Mustajab
Muhammad Yasin
Preceded byAzikin Solthan
Succeeded byIlham Azikin
Personal details
Born (1963-02-07) 7 February 1963 (age 61)
Parepare, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
SpouseLiestiaty F. Nurdin
Children3
Alma materHasanuddin University
Kyushu University

Nurdin Abdullah (born 7 February 1963) is an Indonesian politician and academic who was the 8th governor of South Sulawesi and regent of Bantaeng Regency between 2008 and 2018. He was arrested for corruption in 2021, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Born in Parepare, he studied agricultural science in Japan's Kyushu University and returned home, running his own business and teaching before becoming the regent of Bantaeng for two terms. His time as regent saw significant economic growth within the regency, in addition to improvements in health. In the last year of his second term, he participated in the province's gubernatorial election and won.

Early life

Nurdin was born on 7 February 1963 as the eldest child of six. His father, Andi Abdullah, was a member of the Indonesian Armed Forces. Her mother Nuareny Abdullah originated from Soppeng. He claimed that he is a descendant of the Bantaeng kings - specifically, that his grandfather was the 35th King of Bantaeng.[1][2][3]

Education

He went to junior high school (Sekolah Menengah Pertama/SMPN) in his hometown of Parepare, before going to Ujung Pandang for his senior high school studies, graduating in 1986. He continued his education in Hasanuddin University, studying agriculture and forestry. After obtaining his bachelor's degree, he continued to Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, earning his master's degree and doctorate by 1994.[1][4]

Career

In 1997, he returned to South Sulawesi and established a company (PT Tokai Material Indonesia, later renamed PT Maruki Internasional) producing butsudan from wood for export to Japan in Makassar with the help of Japanese investors. He also held the post of president-director in three other Japanese companies.[1][5]

Regent (2008–2018)

In 2008, Nurdin Abdullah ran with Andi Asli Mustajab in Bantaeng's regency election. The pair handily won the election, polling about 46 percent of the votes in a four-pair race in which they were supported by 10 political parties.[6][7] Following the victory, Nurdin resigned from his teaching position at Hasanuddin University and from PT Maruki Internasional.[8] They were sworn in on 6 August 2008.[9]

When he took office, Bantaeng was one of 199 regencies across the country (and 13 in the province) to be classified as "undeveloped".[10] Nurdin established a health service system, based on modified Nissan Elgrand cars received as aid from Japan, which was credited with significantly reducing the maternal mortality ratio.[11] In economic terms, the regency's agricultural sector experienced a significant increase in crop yields and improved diversification under his tenure. Unemployment fell from 12 to 2.3 percent, with absolute poverty dropping from 21 to 5 percent. A 3,000-hectare industrial park was also set up, which was to include a nickel-alloy smelter. Annual income rose from IDR 5 million to IDR 27 million in 2015.[3] Said smelter would be delayed in its operation, causing some controversy as Nurdin was accused of utilizing its (cancelled) opening as a false campaigning premise.[12]

Implementing the lelang jabatan system also used by then-Surakarta mayor and later president Joko Widodo since 2009, Nurdin would win four Adipura awards in a row in addition to multiple other accolades from central government ministries. He was reelected in 2013, winning 84 percent of the votes.[13] His second term expired on 15 August 2018.[14]

He was also made a full professor at his alma mater Hasanuddin University in November 2017.[15]

Governor (2018–2021)

See also: 2018 South Sulawesi gubernatorial election

In 2018, he registered to run in the province's gubernatorial election, with his tenure expiring the same year. He ran with Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, the younger brother of agriculture minister Amran Sulaiman.[16] Supported by PDI-P, PKS and PAN,[17] the pair would win the four-candidate election, securing victory in 16 regencies and cities within the province with a total of 1,867,303 votes (43.87%).[18] He was sworn in by president Joko Widodo on 5 September 2018.[19]

In 2019, a political conflict occurred when Sulaiman reassigned nearly 200 provincial government officials without approval from Abdullah. The dispute resulted in an investigation by the provincial legislature and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Sulaiman's order was rescinded.[20]

Corruption charges

On 26 February 2021, he was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission.[21] He was sentenced to five years' prison on 6 December 2021 by the Makassar Court for Corruption Crimes, and was required to pay Rp 2.2 billion + 350,000 Singaporean dollars.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Profil Nurdin Abdullah" (in Indonesian). VIVA. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  2. ^ Saldy (13 May 2018). "Jelang Ramadan, Nurdin Abdullah Ziarah ke Makam Orangtua". Tribun Timur (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b Toriq, Ahmad (31 August 2016). "Menengok Bantaeng yang Bahagia Dipimpin Raja Nurdin". Detik (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  4. ^ Saldy (25 November 2017). "Nurdin Abdullah reunian bareng teman sekolah di Parepare, begini kisah masa kecilnya". Tribun Timur (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Altar Suci Warga Jepang Ternyata Made in Makassar". Detik (in Indonesian). 12 September 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Nurani Meroket di Pilkada Bantaeng Sulsel". Detik (in Indonesian). 26 June 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  7. ^ "2 Saudara Kandung Berebut Kursi Bupati Bantaeng". Detik (in Indonesian). 24 June 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Sisi Politik Nurdin, Jadi Bupati setelah Kalahkan Pasangan Parpol Besar". Detik (in Indonesian). 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  9. ^ Hantoro, Juli (15 October 2017). "Nurdin Abdullah, Cagub Sulsel Pilihan PDIP dari Butta Towa". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Daerah Tertinggal Menjadi 199 Kabupaten". Bappenas. Kompas. 17 February 2005. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Profil Nurdin Abdullah". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Ternyata Tak Ada Perekrutan Calon Operator Smelter, NA Mau Bohong Lagi?". Rakyat Sulsel (in Indonesian). 14 May 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Aksi dan Ambisi Nurdin, Bupati Bergelar Profesor yang Meraih 50 Award". Detik (in Indonesian). 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  14. ^ Hermawan, Edi (13 August 2018). "Jabatan Sebagai Bupati Bantaeng Segera Berakhir, Nurdin Abdullah Mulai Kemasi Barang". Tribun Timur (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  15. ^ Irawan, Saldy (15 November 2017). "Baru Dikukuhkan Jadi Guru Besar Unhas, Prof NA: Selama Ini Saya Sibuk Urus Bantaeng". Tribun Timur (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  16. ^ Nur Abdurrahman, Muhammad (7 October 2017). "Nurdin Abdullah Pilih Adik Mentan Jadi Wakilnya di Pilgub Sulsel". Detik (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  17. ^ "PROF. DR. IR. H. M. NURDIN ABDULLAH, M.Agr". Komisi Pemilihan Umum. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  18. ^ Amiruddin, Herman (9 July 2018). "Hasil Lengkap Pleno KPU Sulsel, Nurdin Abdullah-Andi Sudirman Menang di 16 Kabupaten". Okezone (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Presiden Jokowi Lantik 9 Gubernur dan Wagub Hasil Pilkada 2018". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Mutasi 193 Pejabat Pemprov Sulsel Dibatalkan, Gubernur-Wagub Pecah Kongsi?". Gatra (in Indonesian). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. ^ "KPK Tangkap Gubernur Sulsel". Berita Satu (in Indonesian). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Divonis 5 Tahun Penjara, Nurdin Abdullah Putuskan Tak Ajukan Banding". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 7 December 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.