Nurdin Abdullah Explained

Nurdin Abdullah
Office:8th Governor of South Sulawesi
Term Start:5 September 2018
Term End:26 February 2021
Deputy:Andi Sudirman Sulaiman
Predecessor:Syahrul Yasin Limpo
Successor:Andi Sudirman Sulaiman
Office1:Regent of Bantaeng
Term Start1:15 August 2008
Term End1:15 August 2018
Predecessor1:Azikin Solthan
Successor1:Ilham Azikin
Deputy1:Andi Asli Mustajab
Muhammad Yasin
Birth Date:7 February 1963
Spouse:Liestiaty F. Nurdin
Children:3
Alma Mater:Hasanuddin University
Kyushu University

Nurdin Abdullah (born 7 February 1963) is an Indonesian politician and academician 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]

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] [3]

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] [4]

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.[5] [6] Following the victory, Nurdin resigned from his teaching position at Hasanuddin University and from PT Maruki Internasional.[7] They were sworn in on 6 August 2008.[8]

When he took office, Bantaeng was one of 199 regencies across the country (and 13 in the province) to be classified as "undeveloped".[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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]

Notes and References

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