TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Away from the bustle of Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin in Jakarta, Czechoslovak historian Rudolf Mrázek drove toward the West Irian Liberation Monument at Lapangan Banteng. On that scorching afternoon in the early 1990s, the capital's roads were still relatively quiet. At an intersection near Jalan Pejambon, he turned left and arrived in a leafy neighborhood. Mrázek, then in his 50s, was on his way to meet a key source for his latest book on Sutan Sjahrir: Sumitro Djojohadikusumo.
In his 70s, Sumitro was a retiree who had been out of government for more than a decade. When Mrazek arrived, Sumitro's secretary told him he was playing tennis-a sport he had enjoyed for the previous 13 years. After stepping down as Minister of Research in 1978, he had far more time to spend on the court.
Sumitro eventually emerged wearing an all-white sporty T-shirt and shorts, casually swinging his racket. "He was always extremely pleasant," Mrázek, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan in the United States, told Tempo on February 5, 2026.
For the father of Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, however, retirement hardly seemed like a time for idleness. In the book Jejak Perlawanan Begawan Pejuang (The Resistance Journey of a Warrior Sage), Hendra Esmara wrote that the Indonesian economic sage quickly returned to his natural "pond": education. He taught at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economics and remained actively involved with the Institute for Economic and Social Research at Indonesia's oldest university.
Sumitro Djojohadikusumo: Prabowo is Arrogant, Temperamental
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Sumitro Djojohadikusumo spoke candidly about the CIA's involvement in the PRRI and his assessment of Prabowo Subianto's character.
The Patron of the Berkeley Mafia
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Several University of Indonesia students studied at the University of California, Berkeley. They later became the economic architects of the New Order
The Chameleon Tactics of an Independence Diplomat
1 hari lalu
Sumitro Djojohadikusumo played an active role in Indonesia's diplomatic struggle at the United Nations. He once clashed with Mohammad Hatta.
The Apple Falls Far from the Tree
2 hari lalu
Prabowo's programs are considered as contradicting many of the ideas championed by Sumitro Djojohadikusumo. The state's role is excessive.
Speaking Through Writing
3 hari lalu
Sumitro Djojohadikusumo enjoyed a measure of privilege because his father, Margono Djojohadikusumo, was a banker during the Dutch colonial era.
A Populist Vision That Ended in Disappointment
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With a populist economic vision, Sumitro initiated food diversification during the New Order era.
Is Prabowonomics Consistent with Sumitronomics?
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On many occasions, President Prabowo has stated that his economic worldview was profoundly shaped by the ideas of his father, the late Sumitro.
The Divergent Economics of Sumitro's Son
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Unlike his father, Prabowo Subianto is running Indonesia's economy recklessly and without fiscal discipline.
CIA's Arms Offer in Singapore
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Sumitro Djojohadikusumo became one of the figures who opened path for PRRI to obtain weapons supplies. The movement was not controlled by CIA, he says
Prabowo's Suharto-style Budgeting
16 Januari 2026
The government was late publishing the 2026 State Budget Law. Economic risks are increasing at a time when budgeting is losing credibility.
