Titiek Suharto

Indonesian politician and businesswoman
Titiek Suharto
Official portrait, 2013
Member of House of Representatives
In office
1 October 2014 – 11 June 2018
Succeeded byGandung Pardiman
ConstituencyYogyakarta Special Region
Personal details
Born
Siti Hediati Hariyadi

(1959-04-14) 14 April 1959 (age 65)
Semarang, Indonesia
Political partyGerindra (since 2023)
Other political
affiliations
Prabowo Subianto
​
​
(m. 
  • Businessperson
  • politician

Siti Hediati Hariyadi (born 14 April 1959), popularly known as Titiek Suharto, is the second daughter of Suharto, the second president of Indonesia.[1] She has led the Indonesian Art Foundation and was a TV commentator for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as a judge on Puteri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) 2014.[2]

Initially a member of Golkar, she was elected to the People's Representative Council in the 2014 Indonesian legislative election. She was re-elected to the People's Representative Council in the 2024 election as a member of Gerindra.[3]

Life

Titiek was born in Semarang, Central Java in 1959. She was the fourth child of Suharto and Siti Hartinah. Titiek studied at SMA Negeri 3 Jakarta from 1974–1977, and graduated from University of Indonesia in 1985 with a Bachelor of Economics.

In May 1983, Titiek married Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, an Army officer. She and Prabowo had one son, Didit Hediprasetyo, who was schooled in Boston and became a fashion[4] and car interior designer.[5]

When Suharto resigned in 1998, his family was alleged to control over 500 companies and have assets exceeding $1 billion.[6] An investigation by TIME Asia noted there was no evidence the money had been obtained illegally.[6][7][8]

Titiek and Prabowo divorced in 1998 after Soeharto resigned following widespread anti-government protests and mass riots.[9] Sixteen years after their divorce, Titiek supported Prabowo at rallies for his presidential campaign in 2014, but she dismissed speculation they would remarry.[10]

Titiek has led the Indonesian Art Foundation and she was a TV commentator for the 2006 World Cup. There was some discussion as to why she was chosen as a commentator. The TV company said that this was because they were introducing a wider variety of presenters.[11]

From 2014-2018, she was elected as a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives through Golkar, the political party that her father created. Titiek has backed her brother Tommy Suharto to lead the party.[12] On 5 December 2017, Titiek said she herself was ready to stand for the leadership of Golkar because the party’s popularity had slumped.[13] In June 2018, Titiek resigned from Golkar and joined Tommy's Berkarya Party. She complained her voice had never been heard in Golkar.[14]

For the 2024 Indonesian legislative election, Titiek will ran as a legislative candidate under Gerindra, Prabowo's political party.[15] She received the 2nd highest number of votes in her electoral district of Yogyakarta, securing a seat for Gerindra.[16]

References

  1. ^ Former Indonesian president Suharto dies, Irish Times, 2008, retrieved 30 June 2015
  2. ^ Colmey, John (24 May 1999). "Suharto Inc". CNN. Time Asia. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Caleg Dapil DIY yang Lolos Senayan, Titiek Soeharto Masuk". Kompas (in Indonesian). 19 March 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Didit Hediprasetyo, Putra Prabowo yang Mendunia". Tempo.co. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Consummate luxury: the BMW Individual 7 Series by Didit Hediprasetyo". BMWGroup.com. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Soehert Inc, Cover story of TIME Asia, 1998, retrieved June 2015
  7. ^ Kathryn Stoner; Michael McFaul (12 March 2013). Transitions to Democracy: A Comparative Perspective. JHU Press. pp. 161–. ISBN 978-1-4214-0813-2.
  8. ^ McDonald, Hamish (28 January 2008). "No End to Ambition". Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. ^ Winarno, Hery H. (31 March 2014). "'Prabowo diusir dari Cendana karena dianggap khianati Soeharto'". Merdeka.com. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. ^ "No need for reconciliation: Titiek Soeharto". The Jakarta Post. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  11. ^ Soeharto clan riding the World Cup wave on 'SCTV' Archived 2015-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Dylan Amirio, 2006, The Jakarta Post, retrieved July 2015
  12. ^ Supporters want Tommy to lead Golkar: Titiek Soeharto, Dylan Amirio, 23 April 2015, Jakarta Post, Retrieved July 2015
  13. ^ Sarwanto, Abi (6 December 2017). "Titiek Soeharto Siap Maju Jadi Ketua Umum Golkar". CNN Indonesia. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Titiek Soeharto to hold strategic position in Berkarya Party". The Jakarta Post. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Titiek Soeharto Kembali Maju Caleg DPR RI, Lewat Partai Gerindra". Tempo (in Indonesian). 13 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Caleg Dapil DIY yang Lolos Senayan, Titiek Soeharto Masuk". Kompas (in Indonesian). 19 March 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.