Chaidir

1. The Biography

drh. H. Chaidir, MM, was born on May 29^th, 1952 in Pemandang Village, Rokan IV Koto Sub-district, Rokanhulu District, Riau Province, Indonesia. His basic education was received in Lubuk Bendahara Elementary School, before continuing to junior high school in Ujung Batu. His higher education in senior high school was obtained in two different schools, Pharmacist School and Setia Dharma Senior High School in Pekanbaru City. By 1973, he completed his higher education in Gadjah Mada University at the Medical Faculty and got his veterinary master in 1978. He went to Australia for obtaining higher education in two different places – Queensland University and James Cook University – for about three months in 1986. During 1990 to 1991, he extended his education in IFOA Reggio Emilia, Italy, before obtaining his master on management from Padjajaran University in 2001.

Chaidir‘s involvement in politic and government began when he was appointed as the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry in Jakarta for two years. In 1987, he moved to Batam and worked in Badan Otirita Batam (Batam Authority Board) before being appointed as the leader of Ketua Angkatan Muda Pembaharuan Indonesia-AMPI (Indonesian Reform Youth Generation) in Batam, and Ketua Nasional Pemuda Indonesia-KNPI (Indonesian National Youth Committee) in Riau. During 1992 – 1997, he was designated as the member of Riau Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) by Golkar Party. By 1994, Chaidir, along with Nasrun Effendi, were appointed to represent KNPI for attending United Nation (UN) General Session in New York as observer. During 1997 – 1999, Chaidir was the chairman of Riau Provincial Legislative Council at Commission D before being designated as the Chairperson of Riau Provincial Legislative Council for 1999 until 2004. He was designated as the Vice of Provincial Legislative Chairman Association in 2000. In 2005, he was the Coordinator of Regional Legislative Cooperation Assembly of Sumatra Island. Up to now, he is the Chair of Riau Legislative Council for the tenure of 2004 – 2009.

Occupying significant positions in government does not make him stop gaining knowledge from abroad. Chaidir can still spend his time visiting foreign countries – such as South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, England, Switzerland, South Africa, and few Southeast Asian countries – to broaden up his knowledge. In addition, he headed Riau Province‘s cultural delegation to hold a cultural performance in Greoux Les Bains, France, in 2001.

Furthermore, he still actively writes several books and articles for mass media while becoming guest speakers in several universities and seminars. Besides, he also publishes Mentari tabloid to share his brilliant ideas.

2. The Thought

His position a leader makes him possesses his own leadership concept. He employs three leadership concepts based on Malay leadership, clear-thinking, and history. Those three concepts can be elaborated as below:

a. Malay Leadership

Malay leadership concept here is the past Malay wisdom concept. According to Chaidir, a leader must apprehend tradition and highly shoulder a mandate addressed to him. Chaidir learns so much from Tsammarat al-Muhimmah, one of Raja Ali Haji‘s books, in applying the past Malay wisdom in the present and in the future as well.

The main duties of a leader based on Tsammarat al-Muhimmah are:

• Shouldering the justice in judiciary (arbitrator)

As an Islamic scholar, Raja Ali Haji tends to relate Islam with Malay. Hence, the justice can solely stand firmly amongst a society where Islamic jurisprudence – Koran, Hadith, Ijma, and Qiyas – stand firmly as well. Islam rules the entire part of social spheres.

• Possessing exemplary behaviour

According to Raja Ali Haji, a leader is a caliph and an imam as well that be obeyed unless he does bad deed. An imam is responsible for shouldering Islam and justice based on Islamic jurisprudence.

• Creating society‘s prosperity

A good leader is a leader, who devotes great attention to serve the public by building public facilities such as mosques, schools, inns, public access, cities, markets, and sanitations. Do not only allocate national income for mundane affairs, but also for beyond living. Consequently, a leader should be able to establish a prosperous nation based on Islamic jurisprudence.

The past Malay kings used to implement those three leadership concepts proven by Riau Malay kingdoms‘ prosperities. For this reason, Chaidir applies such leadership concept when he is shouldering responsibility for leading a society or community. Therefore, he never stops wishing Riau Province would be a prosperous province in the future.

b. Thoughts

A policy coming out of a clear-thinking leader survives longer than policy framed upon a reckless consideration. Prudent policy gives abundant advantages for society as what Francis Bacon said that prudent policy outlasts 25 centuries by imprudent policy. By that means, we know that Chaidir prefers to act prudently a better Riau Province in the future.

c. History

He never stops reading many historical books, especially biography of the world‘s famous figures such as Thomas Hobbes, Will Durrant, Francis Bacon, Styagraha Gandhi, Plato, Albert Camus, Sartre, Karl Jasper, Lao Tse, and Soekarno. By that way he knows what to do as a visionary leader emphasizing persuasive approach in political affairs. He firmly holds Lao Tse‘s idea saying below:

The highest excellence is like (that of) water.  The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike.  Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.

Such attitude then makes us notice him as a prominent figure who presents amongst the Riau people as a problem solver for economic, political, and socio-cultural lives.

3. The Works

Chaidir is well-known as an intellectual figure having good writing tradition. He has written some books and articles such as:

a. Books

1. Suara Dari Gedung Lancang Kuning. Pekanbaru: Pusat Peran Serta Masyarakat (PPM), 1998.
2. Berhutang Pada Rakyat. Yogyakarta: Adicita Karya Nusa, 2002.
3. Panggil Aku Osama. Yogyakarta: Adicita Karya Nusa, 2002.
4. 1001 Saddam. Yogyakarta: Adicita Karya Nusa, 2004.
5. Menertawakan Chaidir (humorous book), Second Edition. Pekanbaru: Yayasan Pusaka Riau, 2006.
6. Membaca Ombak. Yogyakarta: Adicita Karya Nusa, 2006.
7. Geliat Orang-orang Riau. Pekanbaru: Yayasan Pusaka Riau.
8. Riau Kontemporer. Pekanbaru: Unri Press.

b. Articles in Mentari tabloid

1. Tuan Rumah. Edition No. 241/Th V/July 17^th – August 4^th 2006.
2. Dunia Belum Kiamat, Edition No. 240/Th V/July 6^th – 16^th 2006.
3. Guru Jumpa Manusia, Edition No. 236/Th V/May 18^th – June 2^nd, 2006.
4. Resentralisasi Samar-samar (Sebuah Catatan Kecil HUT Proklamasi). Edition No. 243/Th V/August 17^th – 27^th, 2006.
5. Melodrama Mahatir-Badawi. Edition No. 242/Th V/August 5^th – 15^th, 2006.
6. Flu Burung Akhirnya Tiba. Edition 221/Th V/December 19^th -25^th, 2005.
7. Bongkar Pasang. Edition 220/Th V/December 12^th -18^th, 2005.
8. Bahasa Sastra Bahasa Bunga. Edition 219/Th V/December 5^th -11^th, 2005.
9. Menahan Diri. Edition 217/Th V/ November 21^st – 27^th, 2005.
10. Anggota Dewan Juga Manusia. Edition 215/Th V/October 31^st - November 6^th, 2005.
11. Memberantas Kemiskinan Akal Budi. Edition 215/Th V/October 10^th -16^th, 2005.
12. Buah Simalakama. Edition 214/Th IV/October 3^rd -9^th, 2005.
13. Menumpang Kasih Pada Pak Tenas. Edition 212/Th IV/September 19^th – 25^th, 2005.
14. Negeri Ilegal?. Edition 221/Th IV/September 12^th -18^th, 2005.
15. Ketika Malam Sepi Bintang. Edition 221/Th IV/September 5^th -11^th, 2005.
16. Malaria Kemiskinan. Edition 174/Th III/December 20^th - 26^th, 2004.
17. Suara Air Mata. Edition 173/Th III/December 13^th -19^th, 2004.
18. Lembaran Baru. Edition 171/Th III/November 29^th -December 5^th, 2004.
19. Surga Yang Hilang. Edition 169/Th III/November 8^th -14^th, 2004.
20. The Nine Commandments. Edition 174/Th III/November 1^st -6^th, 2004.
21. Presiden Rakyat. Edition 1767/Th III/October 25^th -31^st, 2004.
22. Saddam Hussein Naik Haji. Edition No.124/Th III/December 21^st -27^th, 2003.
23. The Old Soldier Never Die. (Catatan Seorang Kawan untuk Mantan Gubri Saleh Djasit). Edition No.123/Th III/December 14^th -20^th, 2003.
24. Gubernur Selebritis. Edition 121/Th III/23 November 23^rd – December 6^th. 2003.
25. Pondok Nabi. Edition 120-121/Th III/November 16^th -22^nd, 2004.

c. Articles in Serantau tabloid

1. Ada Api Ada Asap. Edition March 17^th – 23^rd, 2000.
2. Albert Einstein. Edition January 14^th – 20^th, 2000.
3. Berutang Kepada Rakyat. Edition Januari 28^th – February 2^nd, 2000.
4. Sukarno Kecil. Edition December 3^rd – 9^th, 1999.
5. Bulan Negeri Serantau. Edition Augusts 20^th – 26^th, 1999.
6. Democracy, Democrazy. Edition October 22^nd – 25^th, 1999.
7. Dewan Pakar. Edition March 31^st – April 6^th, 2000.
8. Di sini Sengan Di Sana Senang. Edition September 3^rd – 9^th, 1999.
9. Emas Hitam Kambing Hitam. Edition February 11^th – 17^th, 2000.
10. Fenomena Perubahan.  Edition September 24^th – 30^th, 1999.
11. Gunung Es. Edition April 13^th – 20^th, 2001.
12. Gusdur Mania. Edition March 3^rd- 9^th, 2000.
13. Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang. Edition April 21^st – 27^th, 2000.
14. Haji Murah. Edition February 25^th – March 2^nd, 2000.
15. Hari Perempuan. Edition December 24^th – 30^th, 1999.
16. Idul Fitri, Kuburkan Benci Bangkitkan Simpati...Edition January 7^th – 13^th, 2000.
17. Kuda Troya. Edition Augusts 27^th – September 2^nd, 1995.
18. Lee Kuan Yew. Edition November 19^th – 25^th, 1999.
19. Maju Kena Mundur Kena. Edition February 4^th – 10^th, 2000.
20. Makhluk Sempurna. Edition October 15^th – 21^st, 1999.
21. Marhaban Ya Ramadhan. Edition December 10^th – 16^th, 1999.
22. Mata Hati. Edition November 5^th – 10^th, 1999.
23. Mathori Abdul Jalil. Edition April 7^th – 13^th, 2000.
24. Memelihara Konflik. Edition March 16^th – 22^nd, 2001.
25. Mencoba Memahami Australia. Edition November 26^th – December 2^nd, 1999.

4. The Awards

For his dedications to education, Chaidir was awarded the First Class Summa Dharma Necklace from the University of Riau in 2004.

Translated by Irfan N (27/08-08)

Source: http://www.classicallibrary.org/laotse/tao/part1.htm

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