Syahrul Yasin Limpo

Syahrul Yasin Limpo
Limpo in 2019
28th Minister of Agriculture
In office 23 October 2019 – 6 October 2023
President	Joko Widodo
Preceded by	Amran Sulaiman
Succeeded by	Arief Prasetyo Adi (acting) Amran Sulaiman
7th Governor of South Sulawesi
In office 8 April 2008 – 8 April 2018
President	Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Joko Widodo
Deputy	Agus Arifin Nu'mang
Preceded by	Amin Sjam
Succeeded by	Soni Sumarsono (Acting) Nurdin Abdullah
6th Vice Governor of South Sulawesi
In office 19 January 2003 – 19 January 2008
President	Megawati Sukarnoputri Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Governor	Amin Sjam
Succeeded by	Agus Arifin Nu'mang
7th Regent of Gowa
In office 1994–2002
President	Suharto Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie Abdurrahman Wahid Megawati Sukarnoputri
Governor	Zainal Basri Palaguna
Vice President	Try Sutrisno Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie Megawati Sukarnoputri Hamzah Haz
Preceded by	Azis Umar
Succeeded by	Hasbullah Djabar
Personal details
Born	Syahrul Yasin Limpo (1955-03-16) 16 March 1955 (age 69) Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Citizenship	Indonesian
Political party	Nasdem
Spouse	Ayunsri Harahap
Children	Indira Chunda Thita Syahrul Putri Kemal Redindo Syahrul Putra Rinra Sujiwa Syahrul Putra
Alma mater	Hasanuddin University
Occupation	Politician

Syahrul Yasin Limpo (born 16 March 1955) is an Indonesian politician, who served as Minister of Agriculture in Joko Widodo's Onward Cabinet from October 2019 until the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced his involvement in alleged corruption in September 2023.^[1] He was governor of South Sulawesi from 2008 to 2018.^[2][3][4]

He switched political parties in March 2018, leaving Golkar to join Nasdem, led by Surya Paloh.^[5]

Political career

In 2016, Limpo ran for the leadership of the Golkar Party but lost to Setya Novanto.^[6] After a 2017 meeting with Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University rector Sulaiman ibn Abdullah Abalkhail, Limpo helped facilitate the opening of a Saudi-funded university in South Sulawesi.^[7]

In 2017, Limpo oversaw a controversial project in the province to create five artificial islands to increase public space at Makassar. Opposition came from environmental organizations which filed a lawsuit and local fishermen who attempted to physically block the construction, claiming the project would deplete fish stocks.^[8]

On 2 September 2022, Riezky Aprilia was reported to the Honorary Court of the DPR (MKD) for remarking to the Minister of Agriculture,^[9] Limpo, that he was taking the "wrong medicine" during a work meeting.^[10] She criticised him and then provided him with an explanation of her remarks, acknowledging that she had just used language rhetorical methods to show her disdain for him.^[9]

Controversies

Corruption Eradication Commission announced his involvement in alleged corruption on 29 September 2023.^[1] At the time of his announcement, he was on an official trip to Italy and Spain. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Harvick Hasnul Qolbi, revealed that Limpo separated from the Ministry of Agriculture entourage after learning his status after KPK announced him as a suspect.^[1] As revealed by the Directorate General of Immigration, his official trip supposedly ended on 30 September 2023, and he should return on 1 October 2023. Since he had not returned after the trip, he was declared missing. His disappearance was eventually confirmed by Yasonna Laoly, who oversees the Directorate General of Immigration's operations. Laoly expressed that his ministry was not responsible for bringing Limpo back, but the Police and KPK would handle his return.^[11][12]

Since his disappearance, Surya Paloh, requested him to return immediately and to cooperate with law enforcement.^[13] Limpo eventually returned and reported himself to Paloh^[14] and expected to report himself to Joko Widodo on 5 October 2023.^[15] Nasdem Party confirmed that Limpo resigned from his post as minister on 5 October 2023.^[16] Limpo reported himself to Ministry of the State Secretariat on the same day submitted his resignation according to the protocol, ending his tenure as minister.^[17] On 6 October 2023, Limpo replaced with Arief Prasetyo Adi, head of the National Food Agency, as acting minister.^[18]

On 11 July 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in a corruption case, with IDR 300 million in fines and replacement money totaling IDR 14,147,144,786 (IDR 14.1 billion) and US$30,000.^[19]

References

1. "Mentan SYL Menghilang di Eropa Usai Dikabarkan Jadi Tersangka KPK, padahal Pejabat dan Staf Sudah Pulang". merdeka.com. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
2. Indonesia exports frozen octopus to Japan. Jakarta Post, 16 May 2017. Accessed 19 September 2017.
3. Reiny Dwinanda, President Jokowi inaugurates Maros market. Republika, 13 July 2017. Accessed 19 September 2017.
4. First Exports of 30 Tons of Frozen Octopus to Japan . Netral English, 14 May 2017. Accessed 19 September 2017.
5. Putri, Parastiti Kharisma (27 March 2018). "Syahrul Yasin Limpo Pindah ke NasDem, Ical Banggakan Golkar". Detik (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 March 2018.
6. Francis Chan, Eight get green light to vie for top job in Indonesia's biggest political party. The Straits Times, 12 May 2016. Accessed 19 September 2017.
7. Saudi Arabia to build university in South Sulawesi. Antara, 13 April 2017. Accessed 19 September 2017.
8. Rahmat Hardiansya and Wahyu Chandra, Sand mining, land reclamation meet fierce resistance in Makassar. Mongabay, 10 July 2017. Accessed 19 September 2017.
9. Alfons, Matius. "Riezky Aprilia Heran Diadukan ke MKD DPR soal 'Salah Minum Obat'". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-11-25.
10. "Profil Anggota DPR RI F-PDIP Riezky Aprilia, Debat Panas dengan Mentan soal Salah Makan Obat". suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-11-25.
11. Safitri, Eva. "Dirjen Imigrasi: Mentan SYL Harusnya Tiba di RI 1 Oktober". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
12. Safitri, Eva. "Yasonna Ungkap Mentan Syahrul Yasin Limpo Belum Masuk RI dari Luar Negeri". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
13. Anggrainy, Firda Cynthia. "Surya Paloh Perintahkan Mentan Segera Pulang ke Indonesia". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
14. Media, Kompas Cyber (2023-10-05). "Mentan Syahrul Yasin Limpo Jelaskan Kasusnya ke Surya Paloh". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-05.
15. Media, Kompas Cyber (2023-10-04). "Mentan Syahrul Yasin Limpo Bakal Menghadap Presiden Jokowi di Istana Hari Ini". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-05.
16. Safira, Alifia Selma, NasDem Ungkap SYL Sudah Ajukan Pengunduran Diri sebagai Mentan (in Indonesian), retrieved 2023-10-05
17. Rizqo, Kanavino Ahmad. "Ke Setneg, Syahrul Yasin Limpo Ajukan Mundur dari Mentan". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-05.
18. Wibawana, Widhia Arum. "Profil Arief Prasetyo Adi, Kepala Badan Pangan Jadi Plt Mentan". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-10-06.
19. "Syahrul Yasin Limpo Divonis 10 Tahun Penjara!". Detik.com. Retrieved 11 July 2024.