Bahlil Lahadalia, a politician and businessman from Banda, Maluku, is known as one of the controversial figures in the Second Indonesia Maju Cabinet, under the leadership of President Joko Widodo.
In addition to his position as Minister of Investment, Bahlil has often been in the spotlight due to several controversies, such as being seen drinking beer priced at Rp. 38 million, referring to a ‘Javanese king’ who must be respected by the Indonesian people, and allegations of trading mining permits. He also managed to earn a doctoral degree from the University of Indonesia in just 20 months, which became a topic of public discussion.
Biography
Bahlil Lahadalia, S.E. was born on August 7, 1976, in Banda, Maluku. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees (MWA) at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) as the Representative of the Public. Since April 28, 2021, he has also held the position of Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board in the Second Indonesia Maju Cabinet. Previously, Bahlil served as the Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (BPP HIPMI) for the 2015–2019 period.
Bahlil was born and raised in Maluku, where he completed his primary education at SDN 1 Seram Timur and junior high at SMPN 1 Seram Timur. He later moved to Fakfak, Papua, to attend SMA YAPIS Fakfak. After high school, he pursued higher education at the College of Economics Port Numbay, Jayapura. During his studies, he was actively involved in the Islamic Students Association (HMI) and eventually became the National Treasurer of HMI.
Career
While attending university, Bahlil worked as an insurance marketing agent and was also a contract employee at Sucofindo. After graduating, he and his colleague founded a company specializing in financial consulting and information technology (IT), where he served as the regional director for Papua. However, not long after, he decided to leave the company and received dividends amounting to IDR 600 million.
Bahlil’s political career gained public recognition after he was appointed as the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM in the second Indonesia Maju Cabinet. He also leader of the Golkar Party, replacing Airlangga Hartarto, amid rumors of government involvement in political lobbying related to a crude oil export case involving Airlangga.
Controversy
Alleged sale of mining permits
In one of his statements, Bahlil revealed that he was granted the authority to revoke mining permits through Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 1 of 2022 concerning the Task Force for Land Use Management and Investment Regulation. According to media reports, including CNN Indonesia, Bahlil was accused of collecting a tribute amounting to IDR 25 billion from 33 nickel mining business licenses (IUP) to restore revoked permits. These allegations were based on testimonies from several mining entrepreneurs.
Alcohol worth IDR 38 million
Bahlil came under the spotlight after a photo of him with a bottle of Hibiki, an alcoholic beverage estimated to be worth Rp 38 million, viral on social media. The photo was picked up by national media, including Tribunnews. Some questioned the authenticity of the photo, but former Minister of Youth and Sports, Roy Suryo, confirmed that it was not edited.
In response to this incident, young cadres of Golkar reported the case to Bareskrim on August 28, 2024, as an effort to protect the reputation of their leader and the Golkar Party.
Mentioning the figure of “Raja Jawa”
During the 11th Golkar National Congress in Jakarta, Bahlil warned party cadres to be cautious when dealing with the “Raja Jawa,” a term he understood could lead to significant issues. This statement sparked heated discussions, and Bahlil eventually clarified that his remarks were merely a political joke. The palace summoned Bahlil for further clarification. Additionally, he emphasized to the media that there was no serious intention behind his statement.
Doctorate degree in 20 months
One of Bahlil’s noteworthy academic achievements is the completion of his doctorate degree from the University of Indonesia in just 20 months. While many praise this accomplishment, some question the rapid academic process. This quickly obtained doctorate degree has elicited various responses from academics and the general public.
Some observers argue that such a short period does not reflect the academic standards typically required, which usually take years to complete adequate research and dissertation writing. This criticism leads to suspicions that certain aspects may have been overlooked in the academic process. According to a report in Tempo, several members of the Board of Professors at the University of Indonesia even held a special meeting to discuss the legitimacy and the process behind Bahlil’s doctoral degree achievement. They formed a special team to investigate the matter further.
On the other hand, Bahlil defends his achievement by stating that his dissertation is the result of thorough research relevant to Indonesia’s socio-economic context. He claims that the speed of completing this degree does not diminish the substance of the research conducted. Nevertheless, the debate surrounding the quality and integrity of his academic process continues, creating tension between personal achievement and broader academic expectations.
Conclusion
Throughout his political and business career, Bahlil Lahadalia has walked many paths, from being an entrepreneur to serving as the Minister of Investment in the second term of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet. Despite being recognized for his achievements, such as obtaining a doctoral degree in a short time, various controversies surrounding him have sparked public debate. Allegations of trading mining permits, his controversial remarks about ‘Raja Jawa,’ and the incident involving expensive beer have kept Bahlil in the spotlight of media and public attention.
Nevertheless, Bahlil continues to play his role in the government, striving to attract investment and promote economic growth in Indonesia. Moving forward, it will be interesting to observe how he navigates the challenges ahead and maintains his integrity amidst the pressures of the dynamic political environment.