Jakarta, IO – One of Indonesia’s top economists, Rizal Ramli, died on Tuesday (2/1) at 7.30pm WIB at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. Rizal was born in Padang, West Sumatra, on December 10, 1954. He was a former student activist who became an economics expert, per CNBC Indonesia, Wed (3/1).
Rizal Ramli climbed his way to the top despite facing many difficulties in life. As an orphan, he paid by himself to study at the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
The pressure of life that he has experienced for years has actually enabled to empathize with the problems faced by the society. In 1978, he joined the movement against Suharto’s reelection.
This landed him in prison for 18 months. After he was released, Rizal went abroad to pursue his postgraduate degree. He obtained a doctorate from Boston University, US. Upon graduation, he decided to return to his homeland and contribute to its development.
In 1992, Rizal founded Econit, an economic research institute through which he often criticized many of the government policies which he considered unjust.
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He became famous after serving as the state logistics agency (Bulog) head from 2000-01. He was then appointed as the coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry during the Gus Dur administration.
From 2015-16 he was trusted by the first Jokowi administration to assume the portfolio of coordinating minister for maritime affairs and resources. (un)