Fadli Zon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fadli Zon
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Fadli Zon in 2024
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| 1st Minister for Cultural Affairs | |
| Assumed office 21 October 2024 |
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| President | Prabowo Subianto |
| Preceded by | Nadiem Makarim |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
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Acting
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| In office 11 December 2017 – 15 January 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Setya Novanto |
| Succeeded by | Bambang Soesatyo |
| In office 16 December 2015 – 11 January 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Setya Novanto |
| Succeeded by | Ade Komarudin |
| First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 2 October 2014 – 1 October 2019 |
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| Speaker |
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| Preceded by | Priyo Budi Santoso |
| Succeeded by | Azis Syamsuddin |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 1 October 2014 – 21 Octobet 2024 |
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| Constituency | West Java V |
| Majority | 230,524 (2019) 149,258 (2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 June 1971 Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Political party | Gerindra |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse | Katharine Grace |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harlandale High School |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation |
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Fadli Zon (born 1 June 1971) is an Indonesian politician. He is currently serving as the Minister for Cultural Affairs. He helped start the Gerindra Party (Gerindra) with Prabowo Subianto. He is also a vice chairman in the party.
Fadli Zon was known for sharing different views from President Joko Widodo during his first term (2014-2019). However, after Gerindra joined the government, his opinions became less critical.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Fadli Zon was born in Jakarta on June 1, 1971. He is the oldest of three children. His parents, Zon Harjo and Ellyda Yatim, were from West Sumatra. His father passed away when Fadli was a teenager.
School Years
Fadli grew up in Cisarua, Bogor. He went to Cibeureum 3 State Elementary School. Later, he attended State Junior High School 1 Cisarua. He also went to Fajar Jakarta Junior High School. For high school, he studied at State Senior High School 31 Jakarta.
From 1989 to 1990, Fadli received a scholarship from AFS Intercultural Programs. This allowed him to study at Harlandale High School in San Antonio, Texas, in the United States. He graduated with high honors from there.
University Studies
After high school, Fadli studied Russian literature at the University of Indonesia. He was very active in student groups. He led the Student Senate Education Bureau at his university from 1992 to 1993. He was also the General Secretary of the FSUI Student Senate in 1993.
Fadli was also involved in groups outside of campus. He was the Secretary General and President of the Indonesian Students Association for International Studies (ISAFIS). This was from 1993 to 1995.
In 1994, Fadli was recognized as one of the top students at the University of Indonesia. He also led the Indonesian student team at a debate competition in Malaysia.
In 2002, he continued his studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He earned a Master's of Science (M.Sc) degree in Development Studies from LSE. In 2016, he completed his doctoral degree in History from the University of Indonesia.
Journalism Career
While still a student, Fadli started writing for magazines and newspapers. From 1990 to 1991, he wrote for Tabloid IQRA and Suara Hidayatullah magazine. He also contributed to youth magazines like Nona and Hai.
In 1991, he wrote for the daily newspaper Harian Terbit. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as an editor for Gema Angkatan 45, a politics magazine. He also joined the editorial board of Horison literary magazine in 1993.
Later, he became an editor for Tajuk magazine from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, he became the chief editor of Visi journal. He continued his work in journalism, joining the editorial board of Tani Merdeka magazine in 2007. In 2011, he was the editor-in-chief of Tabloid Gema Indonesia Raya.
Political Career
After finishing his studies in 1997, Fadli became a representative for youth groups in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). This was Indonesia's highest legislative body at the time. After some big changes in the government, Fadli lost his seat in 1999.
Starting a Political Party
Afterward, Fadli helped start the Crescent Star Party. He was one of its chairmen for a short time before leaving in 2001.
In 2007, Fadli met Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who is the younger brother of Prabowo Subianto. Together with Prabowo, they formed the Gerindra Party in December 2007. The party took part in the 2009 elections.
Serving in Parliament
In the 2014 elections, Fadli ran for parliament again. This time, he won a seat in the House of Representatives. He was then chosen to be the Deputy Speaker of the House for the 2014-2019 period. He also served as Acting Speaker of the House for short periods in 2015–2016 and 2017–2018.
Fadli has led Indonesian lawmakers in many international meetings. In the 2019 General Election, he was re-elected to parliament. He became the chairman of the House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. He was reelected for a third time in the 2024 general election.
He has been the Vice Chairman of the Gerindra Party Central Board since 2008. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Gerindra Supreme Leadership Council.
Meeting Donald Trump
In 2015, Fadli and House Speaker Setya Novanto attended a press conference in the United States. This was with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. They were later reminded to follow the House's rules of conduct.
Views on Vladimir Putin
On March 30, 2018, Fadli posted on Twitter that Indonesia needed a leader like Russian President Vladimir Putin. He tweeted that such a leader would be "brave, visionary, intelligent, wise, not too many debts, not clueless." He then suggested that Prabowo could be that leader.
Later, on February 5, 2019, Fadli tweeted an apology to the Russian Embassy in Jakarta. This was after President Jokowi had mentioned "Russian propaganda" in a political discussion.
Business Career
From 1999 to 2007, Fadli worked on the boards of several energy and farming companies. He was a director for PT Tidar Kerinci Agung, which works with palm oil. He was also a director for PT Padi Nusantara, a rice company.
He was also a director general for Golden Spike Energy Indonesia Ltd, an oil and gas company. Fadli has also led the Indonesian Farmers' Association (HKTI).
Organizations
Fadli holds important roles in several international and regional groups. He is the Vice Chair of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). He is also the Vice President of the League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds. He chairs the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC). He was also the President of GOPAC for two terms.
Fadli has chaired the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) since 2015. He is also the chairman of the Indonesia Philatelic Association. He chaired the Indonesia Keris Society for a period. He leads the Islamic Cultural Arts Association (HSBI), which is a very old cultural group in Indonesia.
Foreign Travel as a Legislator
Fadli has traveled to many countries as part of his work in parliament. Here are some of his trips:
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation to the 14th Conference Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), Rabat, Morocco, March 2019.
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation on a Working Visit to Egypt, March 2019.
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation to the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Seam Reap, Cambodia, January 2019.
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation on a Working Visit to Malaysia, December 2018.
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation on a Working Visit to Thailand, November-December 2018.
- Head of the Indonesian House of Representatives Delegation on a Working Visit to United Kingdom, November 2018.
Library and Culture
Fadli started the Fadli Zon Library in Jakarta in 2008. The Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) says it is the largest private library in Indonesia. It also has very complete collections of coins and stamps.
Fadli has also created other cultural places. These include the Fadli Zon Cultural House in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. He also has the Fadli Zon Creative House in Depok, West Java. In Bogor, West Java, he established the Sundanese Cultural Village. He has received 30 MURI records for his collections and cultural activities.
Fadli has a large collection of traditional kris daggers. He also chaired the Indonesian National Kris Secretariat for a term.
Personal Life
Fadli is married to Katharine Grace, who works as a banker. They have two daughters.
Awards
Fadli has received several awards for his work:
- AIPA Distinguished Service Award from ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), 2021.
- Bintang Mahaputera Nararya from President Joko Widodo, August 2020.
- Champion of Corruption Award, from the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), 2019.
- Best Achiever in Legislator, from Obsession Awards, 2017.
- Kanjeng Pangeran Aryo Kusumo Yudho, from Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat, February 2012.
- Kanjeng Pangeran Kusumo Hadiningrat, from Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat, June 2011.
- Tuanku Muda Pujangga Diraja, from Daulat Yang Dipertuan Raja Alam Minangkabau, 2009.
- Datuk Bijo Dirajo Nan Kuning, from his ancestors' land, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra.
Books
Fadli has written several books. Some of them are published by his Fadli Zon Library.
- The Politics of the May 1998 Riots (2004).
- The IMF Game: The Role of the IMF in Bringing Down the Suharto Regime in May 1998 (2004).
- Wiranto Lepas Tangan: kesaksian Kivlan Zen dan Fadli Zon sekitar huru-hara Mei 1998 (Wiranto Washes His Hands: Testimony of Kivlan Zen and Fadli Zon concerning the Mat 1998 riots) (2004). He wrote this with Kivlan Zen.
- Hari terakhir Kartosoewirjo: 81 foto eksekusi Imam DI/TII (2012). This book is about the execution of Kartosuwirjo, a leader and revolutionary.
- Dreams I Keep: A Collection of Poems, 1983-1991 (2013).
- Menyusuri lorong waktu (Walking the Passage of Time) (2016). This is his autobiography.
- Keris Minangkabau (Minangkabau Kris) (2016). He wrote this with Basuki Teguh Yuwono.
- Pangan dan Pertanian di Era Neoliberal (Food and Agriculture in the Neoliberal Era) (2016).
- Pemikiran Ekonomi Kerakyatan Mohammad Hatta: Jalan Politik Kemakmuran Indonesia (Mohammad Hatta’s Thought on People’s Economy: the Road to Indonesia's Political Prosperity) (2016).
- Orkes Gumarang: Kisah Syaiful Nawas (Orkes Gumarang: The Story of Syaiful Nawas) (2017).
- Orkes Gumarang: Jiwa Yoes Rizal (Orkes Gumarang: Soul Yoes Rizal) (2017).
- Kumpulan Puisi Memeluk Waktu (Embrace Time) (2017).
- Berpihak Pada Rakyat (Siding with the People) (2018).
- Passing Through The Hall of Time (2018).
- Keris Lombok (Lombok Kris) (2018).
- Kujang Pasundan (Pasundan Cleaver) (2018).
- Asmujiono: Pengibar Merah Putih di Puncak Everest (Asmujiono: Red and White (Flag) Raiser on the Top of Everest) (2019).
- Kata Fadli: Catatan-Catatan Kritis Dari Senayan (Fadli: Critical Notes from Senayan)(2019).
- Strengthening The Indonesian Parliamentary Diplomacy (2019).
Further Information
- Fadli Zon Library
- The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia
- Great Indonesia Movement Party
- World Records Museum of Indonesia
- Inter-Parliamentary Union
