Syamsuar

Syamsuar
Governor of Riau
In office
20 February 2019 – 3 November 2023
Preceded byWan Thamrin Hasyim
Succeeded byEdy Nasution
Regent of Siak
In office
20 June 2011 – 4 February 2019
Preceded byArwin AS
Succeeded byAlfedri
Personal details
Born (1954-06-08) 8 June 1954 (age 70)
Rokan Hilir, Riau, Indonesia
Political partyGolkar
Alma materUniversity of North Sumatra
Riau University

Syamsuar (born 8 June 1954) is an Indonesian politician who served as the Governor of Riau from 2019 until 2023. He previously served as Regent of Siak Regency between 2011 and 2019.

Early life

Syamsuar was born on 8 June 1954 in the village of Jumrah, today in Rimba Melintang district of Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau, as the second son of Wahi Abdullah and Rahimah. His father farmed rice and rubber. He entered elementary school in his home village, before moving to Bagansiapiapi for middle school and Bengkalis for his high school, graduating in 1972.[1]

Career

After graduating from high school, he moved to Sawahlunto to work there at a coal mine. After three years, he moved to Bengkalis and became a contract worker for the local government. While in Bengkalis, he went to a government academy, being accepted as a civil servant in 1987 and later obtaining a bachelor's degree in 1990 from the University of North Sumatra. He rose up the ranks between 1987 and 1996, and he had been appointed district head of Siak by 1996 and then of West Tanjung Pinang in 2000. By 2001, he had become the deputy regent of Siak Regency.[1] In 2006, he ran in the regency election as the regent candidate, but was defeated by incumbent Arwin AS.[2] During this period, he obtained his master's degree from Riau University in 2005.[1]

After the election loss, Syamsuar worked in the provincial government of Riau, becoming the secretary of the provincial election commission in 2008, provincial inspector in 2010, and then acting regent of Meranti Islands Regency.[1] He took part in Siak regency's election again in 2011, this time winning with 38 percent of the votes (in a four-candidate race).[3] He would be reelected in 2016 with 59.6% of votes.[4]

Siak regent

In 2017, Syamsuar mandated the wearing on Thursdays of Tanjak, a traditional Malay headwear, for civil servants in order to popularize its use.[5] He also worked with the Malaysian consulate in Pekanbaru for relationships in cultural and sports fields.[6] The old city of Siak, the former capital of the Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura, was also designated a Cultural Property of Indonesia during his tenure.[7] Siak was signed up to be a "green" regency, aimed at conservation of remaining peatland in the regency.[8]

He formally resigned as regent on 4 February 2019, in order to take up his new office as governor.[9]

Riau governor

Syamsuar took part in the 2018 Riau gubernatorial election with Edy Nasution as his running mate, winning the election with 38.2 percent of votes.[10] He was sworn in on 20 February 2019.[11]

On 3 November 2023, Syamsuar officially resigned from his governorship in order to run for a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2024 legislative election.[12] He won a seat from the Riau 1st electoral district.[13]

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b c d Erianto, Dwi (27 July 2021). "Gubernur Riau Syamsuar". Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Pilkada Siak, Jago Golkar Keok". detiknews (in Indonesian). 8 May 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Tiga Kandidat Minta Pilkada Siak Diulang". riau.antaranews.com (in Indonesian). 10 April 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Menang di MK, Syamsuar Kembali Pimpin Kabupaten Siak". Okezone (in Indonesian). 19 January 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Siak Kembali Lestarikan 'Tanjak' di Masyarakat". Republika (in Indonesian). 4 February 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Pemkab Siak dan Malaysia kerja sama bidang budaya dan olah raga". Merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Kota Siak ditetapkan jadi Cagar Budaya Nasional". Merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 29 July 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Syamsuar akan Yakinkan Walikota dan Bupati, Riau Hijau itu Bagus". Mongabay (in Indonesian). 21 November 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  9. ^ Tanjung, Chaidir Anwar (4 February 2019). "Bakal Jadi Gubernur Riau, Syamsuar Mundur dari Bupati Siak". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Rakapitulasi Final, Syamsuar-Edy Raih Suara Terbanyak Pilgub Riau". detiknews (in Indonesian). 8 July 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Jokowi Lantik Gubernur Riau Syamsuar dan wakilnya, Edy Nasution". Tempo (in Indonesian). 20 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Gubernur Riau Syamsuar pamit, maju di DPR RI". Antara News Kepri (in Indonesian). 3 November 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  13. ^ Kariman, Hendrawan. "Wakil Riau di Senayan Bakal Didominasi Wajah Baru, Ada Mantan Gubri Syamsuar dan Ketua DPRD Riau Yulisman". Riau Pos (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.