Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, or "Mbak Tutut" as she is more familiarly known in
Indonesia, is the eldest daughter of former Indonesian President
Suharto. She is named after Suharto's late wife Madame Tien.
Business career
She was rumoured to own the Citra Lamtoro Gung Group, with interests in more than 90 companies ranging from telecommunications to infrastructure, including tollway projects in
Indonesia,
Myanmar and the
Philippines. She served as Minister for Social Affairs in Suharto's last cabinet.
In January 2000, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) confiscated land assets valued at Rp 216.8 billion of PT Sinar Slipi Sejahtera (SSS) and owned by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana. The land has been mortgaged by PT SSS to Bapindo as collateral. On 19 February 19 of 2001, Siti Hardiyanti "Tutut" Rukmana was banned from leaving Indonesia due to corruption allegations for one year. The legal move on Indonesia's former first family was due to a promise by President Abdurrahman Wahid to prosecute those responsible for corruption during her father's 32 years in power..
2004 presidential elections
She planned to run for the presidency in the
2004 presidential elections, saying democracy allowed anyone to join the presidential race. The contest was ultimately won by former General
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, defeating popular incumbent
Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Suharto's death
On 28 January 2008, Rukmana, delivered her tearful eulogy at the end of her father's private funeral, stating, "If he ever did some wrong and sinned, may God grant his forgiveness. We also ask, that hopefully all of you, sirs and madams, be willing to forgive all mistakes and faults of the late (Suharto). Father, farewell father. Our prayers are always with you.
Family life
She adopted her nephew Ari Sigit's out-of-wedlock daughter. Siti Hardiyanti Rukamana was married to the already exceptionally wealthy
Indra Rukmana, heir of a business tycoon.
References
Further reading
- (2004) Mbak Tutut : Hj. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana : membangun bangsa menuju ketenteraman dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Jakarta: Institute for Justice and Peace