Kwik Kian Gie


Kwik Kian Gie was the Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance from 1999–2000, and Minister of National Development Planning from 2001-2004.
He is a prominent Indonesian economist who often wrote columns in the newspaper KOMPAS criticizing the policies of the Suharto administration in the late 1980s and 1990s. But a decades later he also spoke on one of Indonesia's national television, no Indonesian leader who dared to argue but Sukarno, Suharto and Gus Dur. He is well known for being outspoken and is regarded as an honest politician and economist although his writings are sometimes considered controversial.

Education

Following working in a teaching post in the Economics Department in the University of Indonesia, he undertook further studies in the Nederlandse Economische hogeschool in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Career

After a few years working in the Netherlands following his graduation he returned to Indonesia and held several executive positions and became an entrepreneur.
He maintained a strong interest in politics and education, and said to the press that, "I now have enough money to pay for anything I can wish for," and with that started his involvement with the PDI-P opposition political party of Megawati Sukarnoputri.
He also founded Institut Bisnis & Informatika Indonesia which is now known as Kwik Kian Gie School of Business, a well-known business/management school in Indonesia, with his colleagues.

Candidacy

During the rise of Megawati Sukarnoputri he was mentioned as a possible candidate for the important post of Coordinating Minister of Economics and Finance. He was appointed to the position by Abdurrahman Wahid in the Wahid Cabinet in October 1999. However, various political hurdles prevented him from making much progress during his term in office. He was later moved to the position of Minister of National Development and Planning. His period as minister was seen by some as a disappointment.