H. Probosutedjo:
Vision and Passages towards Success as a National Businessman
Author: H. Probosutedjo
Publisher: Gemah Ripah, Jakarta
year: 1999
ISBN: 9798679033
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
H. Probosutedjo, is the leader of a conglomerate who has built his career through different passages and many difficulties. Because of his bold attitude and views towards public officials and the government, he is considered too vocal.
H. Probosutedjo was born in Yogyakarta on the 1st of May 1930. His early work as a public school teacher (Taman Siswa literally translated as ‘Students’ Garden’) has fostered his feelings of nationalism and made him an individual that is not afraid of swimming against the currents. He is unfaltering in his belief that the right must be exemplified and the wrong must be exposed.
As a businessman of international caliber, he socializes with businessmen from allied countries, but he never forgets where he comes from and always defends the rights of the ‘little people’.
Even though no one else has stated that national development has deviated from its original objectives, H. Probosutedjo, however, makes bold evaluations of national development, and argues that it is not following the intentions of the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila (The Five National Philosophies). As an ex public school teacher he is well learned in the teachings of kejawen (Javanese philosophies), but is not a fanatic follower. In his explanations regarding ‘sangkan paraning dhumadi’ he talks about this analytically and never deviates from the teachings of Islam.
H. Probosutedjo never boasts about his social contributions in improving the level of education within the country. He has assisted in building schools for higher level education and his donations (given without hesitation) have reached billions of Rupiah. His philanthropic activities in the education system can not be regarded as business investments. It would be taboo for H. Probosutedjo to commercialize education.
Even though he is not part of the Muhammadiyah organization (one of the largest Islamic Organizations in Indonesia) he often gives donations. In fact, he built a four storey building, inclusive of eighty locals and rectories, for the North Sumatra University of Muhammadiyah in Medan. His home in Yogyakarta is used daily for praying and other religious activities by the surrounding residents.
He never forgets to assist charitable organizations and individuals alike. For example, before the Ede celebration at the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan, he donates food to thousands of poor people. Each are given a package consisting of five kilograms of rice, soy sauce and first class salty fish from Palembang. He always says that the donations given to the poor are his way of showing his gratitude, to God, for his good fortune in business and good health of his family.
Please note that this book is only available in the Indonesian language. The translation above is only intended to provide a limited description of the book.