B. J. HABIBIE
Name: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie
Born: 25 June 1936 Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (born June 25, 1936), more commonly known simply as
Rudi Habibie or B J Habibie, was the third President of Indonesia, holding
office from 1998 to 1999.
He was born in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi; and studied at the Bandung Institute
of Technology.
In 1950, when Habibie was fourteen, he became acquainted with Lieutenant Colonel
Suharto. The future Indonesian President was then stationed in Makassar to put
down a separatist rebellion and lived in a house across the road from the
Habibie family's. Suharto quickly became a family friend. He was present during
the death of Habibie's father and became an intermediary when one of his
soldiers wanted to marry Habibie's sister.
During 1955-1965, he studied aerospace engineering at the RWTH Aachen University,
Germany, receiving Diploma (Germany's First degree certificate which is
equivalent to Master in most countries) in 1960 and doctorate in 1965. He then
worked for Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm in Hamburg. It might have been due to his
time spent in Europe that made him interested in the Leica line of cameras.
In 1974, Suharto sent Ibnu Sutowo to Germany to meet Habibie and convince him to
come back to Indonesia. Habibie was convinced and returned to Indonesia, taking
the position of Technological Adviser to the President.
From 1978 to 1998 Habibie served as Minister of Technology and Research in
Suharto's Cabinet. He pushed for a leapfrog strategy of development, which he
hoped would bypass the foundational low-skill technology stages to turn
Indonesia into an industrialized nation. Despite national and international
opposition (which preferred agricultural investments to technological
investments) to this;he once famously announced that "I have some figures which
compare the cost of one kilo of airplane compared to one kilo of rice. One kilo
of airplane costs thirty thousand US dollars and one kilo of rice is seven cents.
And if you want to pay for your one kilo of high-tech products with a kilo of
rice, I don't think we have enough."
Habibie had considerable power as Minister of Technology. His long acquaintance
with Suharto combined with Suharto's own desire that Indonesia master technology
as part of its development meant that Habibie was able to get extra fundings
from the budget for his projects at the expense of other ministers' project. In
1989, Suharto increased Habibie's power, putting him in charge of strategic
industries.
When Habibie came back to Indonesia in 1974, he was also made CEO of a new state
owned enterprise called PT. Nurtanio. By the early 1980's it had made
considerable progress, specializing in making helicopters and small passenger
planes. In 1995, Habibie succeeded in flying a N-250 (dubbed Gatotkoco) commuter
plane.
In developing Indonesia's Aviation Industry, Habibie adopted an approach called
"Begin at the End and End at the Beginning". In this method, things such as
basic research became the last things that the workers at IPTN focused on while
actual manufacturing of the planes was placed as the first objective.
In 1985, PT. Nurtanio changed its name to Indonesian Aviation Industry (IPTN)
and is now known as Indonesian Aerospace Inc. (Dirgantara).
By the late 80's, it became apparent that there was a rift between Suharto and
his main political ally, ABRI. Suharto, who had repressed Islamists in the
earlier years of his regime now began to make concilliatory gestures in a bid to
build a new power base to compensate the one he was losing with ABRI.
In December 1990, the ICMI was formed with Habibie as its Chairman. In Suharto's
eyes, ICMI would become his main weapon in appealing to the Muslim society. ICMI
was a successful venture, by 1994, it had 20,000 members including future
political opponents such as Nurcolish Majid and Amien Rais.
Habibie served as Chairman of ICMI for 10 years.
Like all Government officials in Suharto's regime, Habibie was a member of
Golkar.
From 1993-1998, Habibie was a Daily Coordinator for the Chairman of the
Executive Board.
The 1998 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session was to be held in
the midst of the Asian Financial Crisis and many were hoping for Suharto to take
serious steps to take the country out of trouble. In January 1998, after
accepting nomination for a 7th term as President, Suharto announced the criteria
for the person who he wanted as Vice President. Suharto did not mention Habibie
by name but his suggestion that the next Vice President should have mastery over
science and technology made it obvious who he wanted to nominate. The market
reacted badly, causing the rupiah to further depreciate in value.
Despite protests and former Minister Emil Salim trying to nominate himself as
Vice President, Habibie was elected as Vice President in March 1998.
By May 1998, the increasing poverty caused by the Financial Crisis and political
discontent had reached boiling point. On 13th May, the shooting of six students
at Trisakti University in Jakarta, caused extreme anger which in turn caused
widespread riots and lootings. There were now explicit calls for Suharto to step
down as President of Indonesia. Suharto responded by saying on 19 May 1998 that
if he stepped down, the Vice President would become President and in a not too
subtle jab to Habibie, said that he was not sure whether the Vice President
could solve the problems facing the country.
Habibie, who learned of Suharto's comments from TV, was upset with his mentor
and from then on was increasingly sympathetic to those who wanted Suharto to
step down. While careful not to oppose him directly or support those who did,
Habibie left the president in little doubt that he saw himself as Suharto's
legitimate successor. Suharto, faced with dwindling civilian and military
support, even among loyalists like Wiranto and Ginandjar Kartasasmita, decided
to resign late on the evening of 20 May 1998.
The next morning, on 21 May 1998, Suharto publicly announced his resignation and
Habibie was immediately sworn in as President. There was mixed reaction to
Habibie's assumption of the Presidency. Hardline reformists saw Habibie as an
extension of Suharto's regime while moderate reformists saw him as leading a
transitional Government.
With the release of his 2006 book, Detik-Detik Yang Menentukan: Jalan Panjang
Indonesia Menuju Demokrasi (Decisive Moments: Indonesia's Long Road Towards
Democracy), there is speculation that Suharto had wanted Habibie to resign along
with him. In Javanese style, Suharto hinted at this intention subtly.
Habibie, who isn't Javanese, didn't take the hint and decided to take the office
of the President. Because of this inability to read his intentions, Suharto
showed nothing but contempt and never talked to Habibie again.
Name: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie
Born: 25 June 1936 Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (born June 25, 1936), more commonly known simply as
Rudi Habibie or B J Habibie, was the third President of Indonesia, holding
office from 1998 to 1999.
He was born in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi; and studied at the Bandung Institute
of Technology.
In 1950, when Habibie was fourteen, he became acquainted with Lieutenant Colonel
Suharto. The future Indonesian President was then stationed in Makassar to put
down a separatist rebellion and lived in a house across the road from the
Habibie family's. Suharto quickly became a family friend. He was present during
the death of Habibie's father and became an intermediary when one of his
soldiers wanted to marry Habibie's sister.
During 1955-1965, he studied aerospace engineering at the RWTH Aachen University,
Germany, receiving Diploma (Germany's First degree certificate which is
equivalent to Master in most countries) in 1960 and doctorate in 1965. He then
worked for Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm in Hamburg. It might have been due to his
time spent in Europe that made him interested in the Leica line of cameras.
In 1974, Suharto sent Ibnu Sutowo to Germany to meet Habibie and convince him to
come back to Indonesia. Habibie was convinced and returned to Indonesia, taking
the position of Technological Adviser to the President.
From 1978 to 1998 Habibie served as Minister of Technology and Research in
Suharto's Cabinet. He pushed for a leapfrog strategy of development, which he
hoped would bypass the foundational low-skill technology stages to turn
Indonesia into an industrialized nation. Despite national and international
opposition (which preferred agricultural investments to technological
investments) to this;he once famously announced that "I have some figures which
compare the cost of one kilo of airplane compared to one kilo of rice. One kilo
of airplane costs thirty thousand US dollars and one kilo of rice is seven cents.
And if you want to pay for your one kilo of high-tech products with a kilo of
rice, I don't think we have enough."
Habibie had considerable power as Minister of Technology. His long acquaintance
with Suharto combined with Suharto's own desire that Indonesia master technology
as part of its development meant that Habibie was able to get extra fundings
from the budget for his projects at the expense of other ministers' project. In
1989, Suharto increased Habibie's power, putting him in charge of strategic
industries.
When Habibie came back to Indonesia in 1974, he was also made CEO of a new state
owned enterprise called PT. Nurtanio. By the early 1980's it had made
considerable progress, specializing in making helicopters and small passenger
planes. In 1995, Habibie succeeded in flying a N-250 (dubbed Gatotkoco) commuter
plane.
In developing Indonesia's Aviation Industry, Habibie adopted an approach called
"Begin at the End and End at the Beginning". In this method, things such as
basic research became the last things that the workers at IPTN focused on while
actual manufacturing of the planes was placed as the first objective.
In 1985, PT. Nurtanio changed its name to Indonesian Aviation Industry (IPTN)
and is now known as Indonesian Aerospace Inc. (Dirgantara).
By the late 80's, it became apparent that there was a rift between Suharto and
his main political ally, ABRI. Suharto, who had repressed Islamists in the
earlier years of his regime now began to make concilliatory gestures in a bid to
build a new power base to compensate the one he was losing with ABRI.
In December 1990, the ICMI was formed with Habibie as its Chairman. In Suharto's
eyes, ICMI would become his main weapon in appealing to the Muslim society. ICMI
was a successful venture, by 1994, it had 20,000 members including future
political opponents such as Nurcolish Majid and Amien Rais.
Habibie served as Chairman of ICMI for 10 years.
Like all Government officials in Suharto's regime, Habibie was a member of
Golkar.
From 1993-1998, Habibie was a Daily Coordinator for the Chairman of the
Executive Board.
The 1998 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session was to be held in
the midst of the Asian Financial Crisis and many were hoping for Suharto to take
serious steps to take the country out of trouble. In January 1998, after
accepting nomination for a 7th term as President, Suharto announced the criteria
for the person who he wanted as Vice President. Suharto did not mention Habibie
by name but his suggestion that the next Vice President should have mastery over
science and technology made it obvious who he wanted to nominate. The market
reacted badly, causing the rupiah to further depreciate in value.
Despite protests and former Minister Emil Salim trying to nominate himself as
Vice President, Habibie was elected as Vice President in March 1998.
By May 1998, the increasing poverty caused by the Financial Crisis and political
discontent had reached boiling point. On 13th May, the shooting of six students
at Trisakti University in Jakarta, caused extreme anger which in turn caused
widespread riots and lootings. There were now explicit calls for Suharto to step
down as President of Indonesia. Suharto responded by saying on 19 May 1998 that
if he stepped down, the Vice President would become President and in a not too
subtle jab to Habibie, said that he was not sure whether the Vice President
could solve the problems facing the country.
Habibie, who learned of Suharto's comments from TV, was upset with his mentor
and from then on was increasingly sympathetic to those who wanted Suharto to
step down. While careful not to oppose him directly or support those who did,
Habibie left the president in little doubt that he saw himself as Suharto's
legitimate successor. Suharto, faced with dwindling civilian and military
support, even among loyalists like Wiranto and Ginandjar Kartasasmita, decided
to resign late on the evening of 20 May 1998.
The next morning, on 21 May 1998, Suharto publicly announced his resignation and
Habibie was immediately sworn in as President. There was mixed reaction to
Habibie's assumption of the Presidency. Hardline reformists saw Habibie as an
extension of Suharto's regime while moderate reformists saw him as leading a
transitional Government.
With the release of his 2006 book, Detik-Detik Yang Menentukan: Jalan Panjang
Indonesia Menuju Demokrasi (Decisive Moments: Indonesia's Long Road Towards
Democracy), there is speculation that Suharto had wanted Habibie to resign along
with him. In Javanese style, Suharto hinted at this intention subtly.
Habibie, who isn't Javanese, didn't take the hint and decided to take the office
of the President. Because of this inability to read his intentions, Suharto
showed nothing but contempt and never talked to Habibie again.