Irman Gusman


Irman Gusman is an Indonesian politician and businessman. He is a former speaker of the Regional Representative Council of Indonesia, who became the first Indonesian parliamentary leader to be elected for two consecutive terms. This earned him the nickname Pejuang daerah.

Early life

Gusman was born in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra on 11 February 1962 to Gusman Gaus and Janimar Kamili. His father was rector of the Muhammadiyah University of West Sumatra, while his mother was the daughter of gold traders.
Gusman completed his undergraduate education at the Faculty of Economics of the Christian University of Indonesia, where he was chairman of the Student Senate. He subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Bridgeport.

Political career

Irman Gusman is one of the major political figures of the post-Suharto era. He fought for the need of recognition and accommodation of regional interests at the various state institutions. His political stance is based on Indonesia being a multicultural nation. Together with Ginandjar Kartasasmita and associates, Gusman was involved in the establishment of the House of Regional Representatives or Senate, a new checks and balances system within the national government system.
Irman Gusman began his political career in 1999 as member of the People's Consultative Assembly, representing West Sumatra. In 2004, he was elected member of the newly formed DPD, representing West Sumatra and became vice-chairman of the DPD with chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita its speaker. Irman was elected chairman of the DPD on 2 October 2009, having received 81 votes over his opponent Laode Ida's 46 votes. He began his second term on 2 October 2014, after winning from police general Farouk Muhammad of West Nusa Tenggara province, with 66 against 53 votes.
On 5 October 2016 Irman was officially discharged from his role as speaker following his controversial Sept. 17 arrest for allegedly accepting bribes. He was later sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in jail by Central Jakarta Graft Court, but its verdict was annulled on Sept 24, 2019 by the Supreme Court.
According to Law-Justice.co, the Supreme Court verdict was the reason Irman Gusman was released from prison on Sept. 26, 2019 because the verdict gave him only three years jail term whereas by the time the verdict was issued, Irman had passed that three year period.
The Supreme Court verdict also cancelled the Central Jakarta court's verdict as well as all the graft charges that had been slapped on him by the Corruption Eradication Commission, the reason Irman Gusman was able to leave Sukamiskin prison in Bandung on Sept. 26 and he is now a free man.

Business career

Positions held:
Irman married Liestyana Rizal Gusman from Sungai Batang, Maninjau. They have two daughters and a son.

Titles and honours