Anas Urbaningrum
Encyclopedia
Anas Urbaningrum is chairman of the Democratic Party
(Partai Demokrat), the party who won Indonesia
's general election in 2009. Elected at the age of 40, he is one of the youngest party leaders in Indonesia. Before this, he was head of the Democratic Party's national division on Political and Regional Autonomy, also head of the Democratic fraction in House of Representatives (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia.
Anas was elected to become member of Indonesia's Parliament during the election of 2009 from the election region of East Java VII, which includes the Blitar City, Blitar Regency
, Kediri City
, Kediri Regency
, and Tulungagung Regency obtaining the highest votes. He has since resigned from this position in the Parliament following his election as party chairman.
and spent his primary, middle and high school years there. After graduating high school
, he entered the Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya
through the national program for gifted students (Penelusuran Minat dan Kemampuan or PMDK) in 1987. Here he majored in Political Science
under the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, graduating in 1992.
Anas continued his education in the Graduate School of the University of Indonesia
and obtained his Master's degree in Political Science in 2000. His thesis has been published into a book under the title "Democratic-Islam: The Thoughts of Nurcholish Madjid" (Republika, 2000). He is currently finishing up his Doctoral program in Political Science at Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University
, Yogyakarta
.
As leader of the largest student organization, Anas became involved in the political reform of 1998. It is during this time that he became member of the Political Law Revision Team, or Team Seven, to pursue the demands of the Reformasi.
During the first democratic election in 1999, Anas became member of the Political Parties Selection Team, or Team Eleven, and took the responsibility to verify the eligibility of political parties
to participate in the national election. He then became member of the Election Commission (KPU) in 2001-2005 which initiated the election of 2004.
After resigning from the KPU, Anas joined the Democratic Party and has been Head of the Political and Regional Autonomy division since 2005.
On October 1st, 2009, Anas was appointed as the head of the Democratic Party Fraction in Parliament. His biggest task involved unifying the Democratic Party in their voice during the case of Century Bank.
Following his election as party chairman on July 23, 2010, Anas resigned from the DPR.
Anas declared his candidacy in Jakarta on April 15, 2010. In his declaration speech, Anas emphasized that his goal was not to fight or win a race. His candidacy was not to secure a high standing official position. According to Anas, congress is arena for amicable competition amongst brothers. "All candidates are the best cadres and brothers that represent the Democratic Party."
In this declaration, Anas expressed his agenda to institutionalize the party. That is, how to transform the ideas of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as the central and most important figure of the Democratic Party into a strong party.
His other agenda is internal stabilization; better, more qualified and systematic cadre recruitment; decentralizing the management of party through systematic measures; building political culture of integrity, intelligence and humility; also to manage strong and accountable logistics.
Anas's political ideas were further included in his cultural speech "Building the Culture of Democracy" that took place in Jakarta, May 16, 2010. This speech is part of a continuing culture of debate that can be traced back to Indonesia's founding fathers such as Bung Karno, Bung Hatta, Sjahrir; and other intellectuals such as Tan Malaka, Soedjatmoko, even Kartini who poured out her ideas in letters.
In this speech, Anas expressed his ideas on money politics, the patron based system, sub-nasionlalism, and the dominance of "ascribed status", weak meritocracy and "zero sum game" as the greatest challenges in building the culture of democracy that must be protected from the pollution of money politics. Meritocracy will give rise to competent leaders, not a strongman who will bypass the system and institution such that checks and balances can progress effectively.
In the middle of his preparation for congress, Anas published his book "Silent Revolution" in the auditorium of Pikiran Rakyat, Bandung. This book describes the successful strategies of the Democratic Party and SBY in winning the election of 2009. Anas illustrated the diligence of the Democratic Party in surveying the market periodically and to include all elements of the party. The book also includes personal observations of how a party works hard in preparation of the election without much public fanfare.
There was tight competition in congress between three candidates: Anas, Andi Malaranggeng (who is also Minister of Youth and Sports), and Marzuki Alie (DPR RI Chairman) who only declared his candidacy one day before congress started.
In the first round of votings, Anas lead (236 votes) over Marzuki Alie (209 votes) and Andi Malaranggeng (82 votes).
As none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes, there was a second round of votings. In the process of this second round, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared a statement saying that all regional and municipal representatives should vote for the general chairman of the Democratic Party by following their heart, illustrating the workings of democracy within the party.
In the second round, Anas took lead by receiving 280 votes. Marzuki Alie received 240 votes, while two votes were absentees. This election made Anas one of the youngest Chairman of a political party in Indonesia. In response to the win, Anas said, "You see for yourself, I won through a democratic election. This is evidence, that in addition to being a party that prioritizes democracy, Mr. SBY is also a true democrat as he never got involved in the process of election, including supporting one of the candidates."
On October 17, 2010, Anas appointed the Democratic Party's plenary board that is composed of 2.000 people, at the same time the birthday of the party was being celebrated in Jakarta.
Democratic Party (Indonesia)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Indonesia, was founded on 9 September 2001. Its ideology is based on the Indonesian concept of Pancasila.-Origins:...
(Partai Demokrat), the party who won Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's general election in 2009. Elected at the age of 40, he is one of the youngest party leaders in Indonesia. Before this, he was head of the Democratic Party's national division on Political and Regional Autonomy, also head of the Democratic fraction in House of Representatives (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia.
Anas was elected to become member of Indonesia's Parliament during the election of 2009 from the election region of East Java VII, which includes the Blitar City, Blitar Regency
Blitar Regency
Blitar Regency is one of regencies in East Java, Indonesia. Since 2010, its administrative center is located in Kanigoro after sharing the same administrative center with Blitar City for more than a century.-References:...
, Kediri City
Kediri
Kediri or Kadiri was a Hindu Javanese Kingdom based in East Java from 1042 to around 1222. Despite the lack of archaeological remains, the age of Kediri saw much development in classical literature....
, Kediri Regency
Kediri Regency
Kediri is a kabupaten located in East Java province, Indonesia.Kediri regency is located in east Java Province, Indonesia. It has 25,000 kilometers square of area. Consist of lower land and higher land. There, in Kediri Regency, exist mount Kelud...
, and Tulungagung Regency obtaining the highest votes. He has since resigned from this position in the Parliament following his election as party chairman.
Early life
Anas was born in the village of Ngaglik, Srengat, Blitar, East JavaEast Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
and spent his primary, middle and high school years there. After graduating high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he entered the Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
through the national program for gifted students (Penelusuran Minat dan Kemampuan or PMDK) in 1987. Here he majored in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
under the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, graduating in 1992.
Anas continued his education in the Graduate School of the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
and obtained his Master's degree in Political Science in 2000. His thesis has been published into a book under the title "Democratic-Islam: The Thoughts of Nurcholish Madjid" (Republika, 2000). He is currently finishing up his Doctoral program in Political Science at Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University
Gadjah Mada University
The Gadjah Mada University is the largest and the oldest national university in Indonesia . founded on December 19, 1949; although the first lecture was given on 13 March 1946. The name was taken from the name of Majapahit's Prime Minister, Gajah Mada.UGM is located in Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa...
, Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta (city)
Yogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
.
Political career
Anas entered the political arena through a college student organization. He joined the Islamic Students Association (HMI) and became the chairman of HMI during the congress in Yogyakarta in 1997.As leader of the largest student organization, Anas became involved in the political reform of 1998. It is during this time that he became member of the Political Law Revision Team, or Team Seven, to pursue the demands of the Reformasi.
During the first democratic election in 1999, Anas became member of the Political Parties Selection Team, or Team Eleven, and took the responsibility to verify the eligibility of political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
to participate in the national election. He then became member of the Election Commission (KPU) in 2001-2005 which initiated the election of 2004.
After resigning from the KPU, Anas joined the Democratic Party and has been Head of the Political and Regional Autonomy division since 2005.
Becoming Member of Parliament
Anas was appointed as member of parliament in the election of 2009 from the voting region of East Java VII which includes the cities of Blitar, Blitar District, Kediri, Kediri and Tulungagung District taking in the largest votes at 178.381 votes, surpassing the numeric voting division (BPP) which is 177.374 votes.On October 1st, 2009, Anas was appointed as the head of the Democratic Party Fraction in Parliament. His biggest task involved unifying the Democratic Party in their voice during the case of Century Bank.
Following his election as party chairman on July 23, 2010, Anas resigned from the DPR.
Chosen as Chairman of the Democratic Party
As the party who won the election of 2009, the second congress of the Democratic Party in Bandung 20-23 May 2010 becomes an important milestone in the politics of Indonesia.Anas declared his candidacy in Jakarta on April 15, 2010. In his declaration speech, Anas emphasized that his goal was not to fight or win a race. His candidacy was not to secure a high standing official position. According to Anas, congress is arena for amicable competition amongst brothers. "All candidates are the best cadres and brothers that represent the Democratic Party."
In this declaration, Anas expressed his agenda to institutionalize the party. That is, how to transform the ideas of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as the central and most important figure of the Democratic Party into a strong party.
His other agenda is internal stabilization; better, more qualified and systematic cadre recruitment; decentralizing the management of party through systematic measures; building political culture of integrity, intelligence and humility; also to manage strong and accountable logistics.
Anas's political ideas were further included in his cultural speech "Building the Culture of Democracy" that took place in Jakarta, May 16, 2010. This speech is part of a continuing culture of debate that can be traced back to Indonesia's founding fathers such as Bung Karno, Bung Hatta, Sjahrir; and other intellectuals such as Tan Malaka, Soedjatmoko, even Kartini who poured out her ideas in letters.
In this speech, Anas expressed his ideas on money politics, the patron based system, sub-nasionlalism, and the dominance of "ascribed status", weak meritocracy and "zero sum game" as the greatest challenges in building the culture of democracy that must be protected from the pollution of money politics. Meritocracy will give rise to competent leaders, not a strongman who will bypass the system and institution such that checks and balances can progress effectively.
In the middle of his preparation for congress, Anas published his book "Silent Revolution" in the auditorium of Pikiran Rakyat, Bandung. This book describes the successful strategies of the Democratic Party and SBY in winning the election of 2009. Anas illustrated the diligence of the Democratic Party in surveying the market periodically and to include all elements of the party. The book also includes personal observations of how a party works hard in preparation of the election without much public fanfare.
There was tight competition in congress between three candidates: Anas, Andi Malaranggeng (who is also Minister of Youth and Sports), and Marzuki Alie (DPR RI Chairman) who only declared his candidacy one day before congress started.
In the first round of votings, Anas lead (236 votes) over Marzuki Alie (209 votes) and Andi Malaranggeng (82 votes).
As none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes, there was a second round of votings. In the process of this second round, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared a statement saying that all regional and municipal representatives should vote for the general chairman of the Democratic Party by following their heart, illustrating the workings of democracy within the party.
In the second round, Anas took lead by receiving 280 votes. Marzuki Alie received 240 votes, while two votes were absentees. This election made Anas one of the youngest Chairman of a political party in Indonesia. In response to the win, Anas said, "You see for yourself, I won through a democratic election. This is evidence, that in addition to being a party that prioritizes democracy, Mr. SBY is also a true democrat as he never got involved in the process of election, including supporting one of the candidates."
On October 17, 2010, Anas appointed the Democratic Party's plenary board that is composed of 2.000 people, at the same time the birthday of the party was being celebrated in Jakarta.
Experience
- Chairman of Democratic Party 2010-2015
- Member of House of Representative and Head of Democratic Fraction 2009-2014 (resigned in 2010)
- Member of National Collective Leadership KAHMI 2009–present
- Chairman of Paramadina Foundation 2006–present
- Head of Political and Regional Autonomy division, Democratic Party 2005-2010
- Member of Election Commission (KPU) 2001-2005
- Member, Political Parties Selection Team, 1999
- Member, Political Law Revision Team, 1998
- Chairman of Islamic Students Association (HMI) 1997-1999