Umar Wirahadikusumah

Umar Wirahadikusumah
Official portrait, 1983
4th Vice President of Indonesia
In office
11 March 1983 – 11 March 1988
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byAdam Malik
Succeeded bySudharmono
8th Chair of the Audit Board of Indonesia
In office
1973–1983
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byDadang Suprayogi
Succeeded byMohammad Jusuf
9th Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
In office
25 November 1969 – 27 April 1973
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byGeneral Maraden Panggabean
Succeeded byGeneral Surono Reksodimedjo [id]
2nd Commander of Kostrad
In office
2 December 1965 – 27 May 1967
President
Preceded byMaj. Gen. Suharto
Succeeded byMaj. Gen. Kemal Idris
Personal details
Born(1924-10-10)10 October 1924
Soemedang, West-Java, Dutch East Indies
Died21 March 2003(2003-03-21) (aged 78)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Resting placeKalibata Heroes' Cemetery
Political partyGolkar
Spouse
(m. 1957)
RelationsAgus Wirahadikusumah (nephew)
Children2 daughters
Occupation
  • Politician
  • army officer
Military service
AllegianceIndonesia
Branch/serviceIndonesian Army
Years of service1945–1973
RankGeneral
UnitInfantry (Kostrad)
Commands
Battles/wars
Service no.13761[1]

Umar Wirahadikusumah (listen; 10 October 1924 – 21 March 2003) was an Indonesian politician and former army general, who served as the fourth vice president of Indonesia, serving from 1983 until 1988. Previously, he was chair of the Audit Board of Indonesia from 1973 until 1983, and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army from 1969 until 1973. Born to a noble Sundanese family, he was educated at the Europeesche Lagere School Tasikmalaya and Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs Pasundan. He entered the military in 1943, during the Japanese occupation. He would go on to serve in the Indonesian Army during and after the Indonesian National Revolution, seeing combat in the Madiun Affair and the PRRI rebellion.

After hearing about the kidnapping of six Generals and seeing unidentified troops occupying the Merdeka Square, Umar sent word to Kostrad Commander, Major General Suharto of the events that had just unfolded and requested his assistance. Umar accepted Suharto's decision to assume command of the Army and supported him in his efforts to crack down on the attempted coup, gaining great trust from Suharto. In 1967, Umar became Deputy Army Chief of Staff before finally becoming the Army Chief of Staff himself in 1969. In 1973, his active military career came to an end and he became the Chairman of the State Audit Board (BPK), a position which he would hold until 1983. In 1983, he was selected by Suharto to become vice president, a choice considered rather unexpected. As vice president, he combated corruption and held prayer services at the vice presidential palace. His term as vice president ended in March 1988 when he was replaced by Sudharmono. He died on 21 March 2003, due to heart and lung problems. His body was interred at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, Jakarta.

  1. ^ Lembaga Pemilihan Umum (1978). Ringkasan Riwayat Hidup dan Riwayat Perjuangan Anggota Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat Hasil Pemilihan Umum Tahun 1977. Vol. II.