Mochammad Anton

Mochammad Anton
魏兴安
Mayor of Malang
In office
13 September 2013 – 12 September 2018
Preceded byPeni Suparto
Succeeded bySutiaji
Personal details
Born (1965-12-31) 31 December 1965 (age 58)
Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Mochammad Anton (born 31 December 1965) is an Indonesian politician and businessman who was the mayor of Malang, East Java between 2013 and 2018. In 2018, he was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Early life[edit]

Anton (Chinese: 魏兴安 Goei Hing An) was born in Malang on 31 December 1965 from Goei Heng An and Sumiati.[1][2] He worked as a driver throughout high school and when he was studying at a university in Surabaya, and continued to do so after dropping out due to financial reasons.[3]

Career[edit]

Around 1998, he entered the treacle business, which was then seen as a waste product by sugar refineries, supplying flavoring factories. By 2013, he claimed to be supplying around 300,000 tons of treacle annually, with links to sugarcane farmers in West, Central and East Java.[3] He also participated in the local offices of Nahdlatul Ulama and later the National Awakening Party (PKB).[4]

Mayor[edit]

In 2013, Anton participated in Malang's mayoral election with the endorsement of PKB and Gerindra, winning after securing 179,675 votes.[5] He was sworn in on 13 September 2013, becoming the city's first Chinese Indonesian mayor.[6] His work as mayor included the reduction of bureaucratic procedures and the establishment of "thematic" villages to where the localities would develop unique products.[7] In addition, the city also set up injection wells and waste banks.[6]

On 27 March 2018, Anton was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission for bribing the city council to approve the 2015 budget. Large numbers of the city councillors were also arrested.[8] He was sentenced to 2 years in prison and fined Rp 100 million on 10 August 2018.[9] He was released from prison after completing his term on 29 March 2020.[10]

During his arrest, Anton would lose in the city's mayoral election - while still winning 135,710 votes (36.59%) - and he was succeeded by his deputy Sutiaji.[11][12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Profil Walikota Malang 2013-2018". ngalam.id (in Indonesian). 24 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ Suryadinata, Leo (2015). Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches (4th ed.). Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 10–11. ISBN 9789814620505.
  3. ^ a b Audinovic, Vizcardine (22 May 2013). "Bekas sopir yang mengadu peruntungan jadi wali kota Malang". Merdeka (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Abah Anton, Walikota Malang Pertama dari Etnis Tionghoa". Ngalam.co (in Indonesian). 29 January 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  5. ^ Hayati, Istiqomatul (31 May 2013). "Hasil Pilkada Kota Malang Dibawa ke MK". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b Khumaini, Anwar (4 March 2016). "Di Jakarta ada Ahok, di Malang ada Abah Anton". Merdeka (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  7. ^ Iskandar, Eddy Dwinanto (5 September 2017). "Manis Buah Sinergi di Kota Malang". SWA (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  8. ^ Widiastuti, Rina (27 March 2018). "Wali Kota Malang Mochammad Anton Ditahan KPK". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Wali Kota Malang M Anton Divonis 2 Tahun, Ratusan Pendukungnya Penuhi Pengadilan Tipikor Surabaya". Tribun Jatim (in Indonesian). 10 August 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Jalani Hidup di Penjara Dua Tahun, Hari Ini Abah Anton Bebas". TIMES Indonesia (in Indonesian). 29 March 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Rekapitulasi KPU Malang: Sutiaji-Edi Unggul Atas 2 Paslon Lain yang Ditahan KPK". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 5 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Pemilihan Walikota/Bupati Kota Malang". infopemilu.kpu.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 March 2019.