Nurdin Abdullah
Nurdin Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 7, 1963 Parepare, Indonesia |
| Occupation(s) | Academic, politician |
| Years active | 1997–2021 |
| Known for | 8th Governor of South Sulawesi; Regent of Bantaeng Regency (2008–2018) |
Nurdin Abdullah (born 7 February 1963) is an Indonesian academic and political figure who held the position of the 8th governor of South Sulawesi and served as the regent of Bantaeng Regency from 2008 until 2018. He was apprehended on corruption charges in 2021, received a five-year prison sentence, and was released in August 2023.
Originating from Parepare, he pursued studies in agricultural science at Japan’s Kyushu University before returning to manage a business and engage in teaching. During his two terms as Bantaeng regent, he facilitated notable advancements in economic development and healthcare. He emerged victorious in the 2018 South Sulawesi gubernatorial election during the final year of his second term.
Early life and education
Nurdin Abdullah, born on 7 February 1963, is the oldest among six siblings. His father, Andi Abdullah, served in the Indonesian Armed Forces, while his mother, Nuareny Abdullah, hailed from Soppeng. He asserts lineage from Bantaeng nobility, with his grandfather said to have been the 35th King of Bantaeng.
He completed his junior high schooling in Parepare and graduated from senior high school in Ujung Pandang in 1986. He obtained a bachelor's degree in agriculture and forestry from Hasanuddin University, followed by a master's degree and doctorate from Kyushu University in Japan by 1994.
Career
Returning to South Sulawesi in 1997, he established PT Tokai Material Indonesia (later renamed PT Maruki Internasional) in Makassar. The company specialized in manufacturing wooden butsudan for export to Japan, supported by Japanese investors. Additionally, he held the role of president-director at three other Japanese-affiliated firms.
Regent (2008–2018)
In 2008, Nurdin Abdullah secured victory in Bantaeng’s regency election alongside Andi Asli Mustajab, endorsed by ten political parties and capturing approximately 46% of the vote. Subsequently, he resigned from his positions at Hasanuddin University and PT Maruki Internasional and was officially inaugurated on 6 August 2008.
At that period, Bantaeng was designated as "undeveloped." Abdullah introduced a healthcare initiative utilizing refurbished Nissan Elgrand vehicles imported from Japan, which substantially lowered maternal mortality rates. The agricultural sector experienced enhanced productivity and diversification; unemployment declined sharply from 12% to 2.3%, while poverty rates dropped from 21% to 5%. An industrial park spanning 3,000 hectares was developed with plans for a nickel-alloy smelter facility. By 2015, annual per capita income increased from IDR 5 million to IDR 27 million. Nevertheless, delays in commencing operations at the smelter generated controversy regarding its inclusion as part of campaign commitments.
Since 2009, Abdullah implemented the lelang jabatan system and earned four successive Adipura awards along with various government recognitions. He was re-elected in 2013 with an overwhelming 84% vote share; his second term concluded on 15 August 2018.
In November 2017, he achieved the rank of full professor at Hasanuddin University.
Governor (2018–2021)
In 2018, as his regency term concluded, he campaigned for governor of South Sulawesi with running mate Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, sibling of agriculture minister Amran Sulaiman. Supported by PDI-P, PKS, and PAN, their ticket won against three other contenders by garnering 1,867,303 votes (43.87%) and securing victories across sixteen regencies and cities. President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated him on 5 September 2018.
A political conflict emerged in 2019 when Sulaiman reassigned nearly two hundred provincial officials without Abdullah’s approval. This dispute prompted inquiries by both the provincial legislature and the Ministry of Home Affairs, culminating in a reversal of the reassignments.
Corruption charges
On 26 February 2021, Abdullah was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission and subsequently received a five-year prison sentence from the Makassar Court on 6 December 2021 for corruption offenses. In addition to imprisonment, he was ordered to pay fines amounting to Rp 2.2 billion and 350,000 Singaporean dollars. Abdullah served his term at Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung and was released on parole on 18 August 2023 after completing two-thirds of his sentence. Following his release, he briefly affiliated with the Perindo Party but departed from it in September 2025.
Personal life
In 1986, while attending Hasanuddin University, Abdullah married Liestiaty Fachrudin, who was the daughter of the university's rector at that time. Liestiaty later ran as a Golkar candidate in the 2024 House of Representatives election but did not win. Their son, Muhammad Fathul Fauzy Nurdin Abdullah, secured the position of regent of Bantaeng for the 2025–2030 period, defeating the incumbent and Abdullah's successor, Ilham Azikin.