Sudirman Said (born April 16, 1963) is an Indonesian politician and public official who served as the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources from October 27, 2014, to July 27, 2016, in President Joko Widodo's Working Cabinet. Known for his background in good corporate governance and anti-corruption efforts, he played a significant role in Indonesia's energy sector during his tenure.
Early Life and Education Sudirman Said was born in Brebes, Central Java, Indonesia. He pursued his higher education in accounting at the State University of Jakarta (IKIP Jakarta, now Universitas Negeri Jakarta) and later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., United States.
Career Before Ministerial Post Prior to his ministerial appointment, Said held various prominent positions in both the public and private sectors. He began his career as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Arthur Andersen Indonesia). He then moved into corporate management, including a role as a manager at PT Bakrie & Brothers.
Said was a vocal advocate for good corporate governance and served as the Executive Director of the Indonesian Institute for Good Corporate Governance. His career in public service included roles within state-owned enterprises (SOEs), such as Special Staff to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and Secretary to the Minister/Secretary of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.
In early 2014, he was appointed as the President Director (CEO) of PT Pindad, a state-owned enterprise engaged in manufacturing military and commercial products.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (2014-2016) Sudirman Said was appointed as the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in October 2014, as part of President Joko Widodo's first cabinet. During his time in office, he focused on several key areas:
- Corruption Eradication: He was particularly known for his strong stance against corruption, especially in the oil and gas sector, initiating reforms within state-owned energy company Pertamina and addressing alleged malpractices in crude oil trading.
- Energy Sector Reform: Said worked on improving the governance and efficiency of the energy sector, including renegotiating contracts with mining companies (such as Freeport Indonesia) and aiming to increase state revenue from natural resources.
- Subsidies and Pricing: He was involved in policies related to fuel subsidies and electricity pricing, navigating the complexities of balancing consumer needs with fiscal sustainability.
His tenure as minister, though relatively short, was marked by significant policy initiatives and an assertive approach to governance issues within the critical energy and mineral resources sector. He was replaced during a cabinet reshuffle in July 2016.
Post-Ministerial Career After his removal from the cabinet, Sudirman Said remained an active figure in Indonesian public life and political discourse. He later served as the campaign director for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto during the 2019 Indonesian presidential election. He has also continued to be an outspoken commentator on issues of governance, energy policy, and anti-corruption efforts.