Yusril Ihza Mahendra

Indonesian lawyer, politician and academic

Yusril Ihza Mahendra (born 5 February 1956) is an Indonesian lawyer, politician and academic, who is currently serving as the leader of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) since 2015. Previously, he served as the leader of the PBB from 1998 until 2005, Minister of Justice and Human Rights from 2004 until 2007, and member of the People's Representative Council from 1999 until 2009. Born on 5 February 1956, he attended the University of Indonesia. Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy. He would go on to work as a speechwriter for presidents Suharto and B. J. Habibie. He founded the PBB in 1998, and was later elected a member of the People's Representative Council in the 1999 legislative elections, and was subsequently appointed as Minister of Justice and Human Rights in 2001 by president Megawati Sukarnoputri. He served as minister until 2004, when he became the State Secretary of Indonesia, going on to serve from 2004 until 2007. Yusril is married with Rika Tolentino Kato and they have two children, Ishmael Zacharias Mahendra and Anissa Zulaikha Mahendra. Previously he was married to Kessy Sukaesih, and they have four children. He divorced Sukaesih in November 2005.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra was born in Manggar, Belitung, on 5 February 1956. His father was Idris Haji Zainal and his mother was Norsiha. His family traced its ancestry from Johor and West Sumatra. His paternal grandfather Haji Thaib from his father's side was a member of the Johore royalty, which likely settled in Belitung from Johor in the 19th century. While his mother was a third generation Minangkabau descendant in Belitung.

He continued the tradition of Malay intellectuals from his family who studied philosophy, religion, law, art and literature. After completing Belitung Islamic College High School, he left Belitung to Jakarta in 1976.

He attended the University of Indonesia (UI), becoming close with his lecturer, Professors Ismail Suny and Osman Raliby. Raliby in particular was previously a member of the Indonesian Constituent Assembly during the 1950s. In turn, Raliby would introduce Mohammad Natsir to Yusril. In 1982, Yusril graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and followed it up the next year with a Bachelor's Degree in Governance. During the crucial moments, Yusril managed to have a disagreement with Suharto over the speech. Suharto wanted to declare that the cabinet was now disbanded while Yusril argued that the cabinet would not be disbanded because it will continue under the leadership of the next President. Suharto then personally made the necessary edits. When all was set, Yusril went to see Amien Rais to inform him that Suharto was resigning. The next morning on 21 May 1998, Suharto announced his resignation.

With Suharto's fall from power, opportunity opened up for Yusril to get himself into politics and air his views. As a politician, Yusril was very much influenced by Natsir and called for the Jakarta Charter to be included in the Constitution. In the 1945 Constitution, Article 29 Section 1 originally read "The State is based on the belief in God with the obligation to obey Sharia law for its adherers". to make it sound more secular. To achieve his political goal, Yusril formed the Crescent Star Party (PBB) on 17 July 1998 and was elected as its first chairman. In June 1999, PBB participated in the 1999 Legislative Elections and came 6th with 2.84% of the votes. In the lead up to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session, PBB joined forces with the other Muslim Parties to form the Central Axis. As the MPR assembled in 1999, the Central Axis had their support behind National Awakening Party's Abdurrahman Wahid with their opponents being Golkar's President Habibie and the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle's (PDI P) Megawati Sukarnoputri. When Habibie's accountability speech was not accepted, he refused to run and the Presidential race came down to Wahid and Megawati. Yusril, perhaps worried that Wahid might also drop out of the race had himself nominated as a Presidential Candidate. However, Yusril would drop out of the race with little time to spare before the election process and Wahid would emerge as the President.

When Wahid named his national unity cabinet, Yusril was appointed to the position of Minister of Laws and Legislations. During the Wahid presidency, Yusril had a major policy difference when Wahid threw up the idea of lifting the ban on Marxism–Leninism. Yusril responded by threatening to resign from his position. A threat that was widely supported by PBB. Nevertheless, Wahid's idea never materialized and despite his differences, Yusril was retained as minister. When political pressure began to put Wahid on the defensive in early 2001, Yusril suggested during a cabinet meeting that Wahid resign. Yusril also sought to improve the quality of Judges in Indonesia.

As 2004 approached, Yusril's name began to emerge as a presidential candidate. Yusril said that he was ready to run, provided that PBB finished in the Top 3 in the Legislative Elections. On 7 May 2007, Yusril was replaced as State Secretary by Hatta Rajasa.