Amirmachmud
Encyclopedia
Amirmachmud was an Indonesian Military
General who was an eyewitness to the signing of the Supersemar
document transferring power from President Sukarno
to General Suharto.
under the Dutch Colonial Government.
After completing his education in 1940, Amirmachmud began thinking of a career which he would undertake. In 1941 he took a topography
course, although nothing ever came out of it.
should they decide to invade Java
. Amirmachmud joined PETA and rose to become a platoon
Commander.
and Mohammad Hatta
proclaimed Indonesia's Independence. Days later, Sukarno called for able-bodied Indonesians to collect weapons and group themselves in preparation of the establishment of an Indonesian Army. Militia groups known as the People's Security Body (BKR) were formed and Amirmachmud headed one in Lembang, West Java.
In 1946, after the People's Security Army (TKR) had been established, the Lembang BKR was integrated into Kodam VI/Siliwangi (Siliwangi Division
), a military regional command responsible for the security of West Java. Amirmachmud was then transferred to North Bandung, where he let his troops in battles against British troops and Dutch troops, who were eager to retain their colonial empire.
Amirmachmud and KODAM VI/Siliwangi was then forced to leave West Java in 1948 after the signing of the Renville Agreement. Under this agreement, the Indonesian Government was forced to recognize territories which had been taken under Dutch Control and this included West Java. Under the command of Colonel Abdul Haris Nasution
, KODAM VI/Siliwangi was relocated in Central Java. During the same year, Amirmachmud would join his troops in a crackdown on the Communist Party of Indonesia
(PKI) at Madiun
.
In 1949, with the Dutch beginning to withdraw from Indonesia, Amirmachmud and his troops returned to West Java. There, Amirmachmud would be involved in skirmishes against the Darul Islam movement, a separatist group who wanted to establish a theocratic Indonesia under the religion of Islam. In 1950, Amirmachmud was also involved in a crackdown against the Just King Armed Forces (APRA
), a military group which entered Bandung and started targeting TNI soldiers.
Once the situation began to settle down, Amirmachmud had a relatively uneventful military career and served as a Battalion
Commander in Tasikmalaya
and Garut
before being appointed a Regiment
al Chief of Staff in Bogor
. After serving in Bogor, Amirmachmud served as a Chief of Staff to the Commander of KODAM VI/Siliwangi.
where he worked as a staff member at the Army headquarters for two years.
In 1960, Amirmachmud was sent to Bandung to attend Seskoad. Here, he learned about politics and economics, important subjects for a soldier in an Army getting more and more involved in the running of the Government. Amirmachmud also became acquainted with Suharto during his time at Seskoad.
was a strategic force which was designed to be on stand by at all times so that it can easily be summoned during the case of national emergency. Caduad was commanded by Suharto, who appeared to like Amirmachmud enough to appoint him to his position.
In 1962, President Sukarno was determined that Indonesia would occupy Western New Guinea
and formed a war command for the liberation of Western New Guinea. For this operation, Suharto was appointed Field Commander and once again, he showed his trust in Amirmachmud by appointing him to the position of Head of the Operational Staff. However, after some minor military incursions, the Netherlands wielded under pressure of the United States and signed the New York Agreement
to transfer Western New Guinea to Indonesia, provided a plebiscite would be held in which Western New Guinea could vote for independence.
.
It was during this time that the G30S Movement made their alleged coup attempt in Jakarta on 1 October 1965. During the day, the G30S Movement would announce the formation of the Revolutionary Council which would include Amirmachmud as a member. Amirmachmud, like many other anti-Communist Generals who were put on the list, was quick to deny the allegations. The day would finish with Suharto taking back control of the situation in Jakarta and PKI being accused as the culprit behind the G30S Movement.
and its surrounding areas.
Amirmachmud's appointment came at a crucial point in Indonesian history and it was during his appointment that Suharto was beginning to gather political support and momentum to mount a challenge to Sukarno. Amirmachmud, like most of his Army colleagues threw their support behind Suharto.
At the beginning of 1966, Sukarno's popularity declined enough for people to openly oppose him via the means of protests. The most vocal of the protesters was the Indonesian Students Action Front (KAMI) who on the 10 January demanded that PKI be banned, PKI sympathizers be arrested and for the prices to be lowered. Amirmachmud and the Army supported, encouraged, and protected the protesters. To make things more practical, Amirmachmud together with Umar Wirahadikusumah
(The Kostrad Commander) and Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
(The RPKAD Commander) authorized Kostrad Chief of Staff, Kemal Idris to take control of their troops which were now concentrated in Jakarta.
There was duality to Amirmachmud's stance at this point. Politically, he was with Suharto, the Army, and the anti-Sukarno protesters. At the same time however, he felt a professional responsibility to prevent Jakarta being reduced to chaos by all the protests and demonstrations. In February, Amirmachmud actually banned protests in Jakarta. This ban was ignored.
Five minutes later, Sabur repeated the message, this time notifying Sukarno of the problem as well. Sukarno quickly suspended the meeting and left the room with Amirmachmud intact. Insisting that Sukarno will be safe, Amirmachmud discussed security options with the President and decided that Bogor would be a safe enough place to avoid the tense situation.
The meeting was adjourned after Sukarno left for Bogor with a helicopter and Amirmachmud was joined by Major General Basuki Rachmat, who was the Minister of Veterans' Affairs and Brigadier General Mohammad Jusuf, who was the Minister of Industry. Jusuf suggested that the three of them go to Bogor to provide from moral support for Sukarno. The other two Generals agreed and together, the three left to Bogor after asking for Suharto's permission. According to Amirmachmud, Suharto asked the three Generals to tell Sukarno of his readiness to restore security should the President order it.
At Bogor, the three met with Sukarno and once again Amirmachmud said to Sukarno that the situation was secure. Sukarno became angry at him, asking how could the situation be secure when the protests are happening. Sukarno then began discussing options with Basuki, Jusuf, and Amirmachmud before finally asking them how he can take care of the situation. Amirmachmud suggested that Sukarno give Suharto some powers and govern Indonesia with him so that everything can be secured. The meeting then disbanded as Sukarno began preparing a Presidential Decree.
It was dusk when the decree that would become Supersemar
was finally prepared and awaiting Sukarno's signature. Sukarno had some last minute doubts but Amirmachmud, the other two Generals, and Sukarno's inner circle in the Cabinet who had also made the trip to Bogor encouraged him to sign. Sukarno finally signed and handed Supersemar to Basuki to be passed on to Suharto. On the way back to Jakarta, Amirmachmud asked to read Supersemar and seemed shocked to find out that it was a handover of power to Suharto. He would later claim that Supersemar was a miracle.
On the 13 March, Sukarno summoned Amirmachmud, Basuki, and Jusuf. Sukarno was angry that Suharto had banned the Communist Party of Indonesia
(PKI) and told the three Generals that Supersemar did not contain such instructions. Sukarno then ordered that a letter be produced to clarify the contents of Supersemar but nothing ever came up apart from the copies that former Cuban Ambassador, AM Hanafi recollected.
During his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs, Amirmachmud developed a reputation of being tough on Government opposition and dissidents. This earned him the nickname of "The Bulldozer
. Amirmachmud also dealt harshly with the people who had gone to prison for allegedly being involved with PKI. In 1981, he ordered that the former convincts be given special supervision.
Amirmachmud also helped strengthen Suharto's control over Indonesia. In 1969, he banned civil servants from being involved in politics but would encourage them to vote to Golkar
in Legislative Elections as a sign of loyalty to the Government. In 1971, Amirmachmud was influential in the formation of the Republic of Indonesia Civil Servants Corps (KORPRI).
(MPR) and like all the other Chairmen of the MPR, he was also concurrently elected to the position of the speaker of the People's Representative Council
(DPR).
Amirmachmud presided over the 1983 MPR General Session which saw Suharto being elected to a 4th term as President with Umar Wirahadikusumah being elected to the Vice Presidency. Under his Chairmanship, the MPR also awarded Suharto the title of "The Father of Development" in recognition of what he had achieved.
In the DPR, Amirmachmud presided the passing of laws which reorganized the structure of the MPR, DPR, and Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), set the rules for Political Parties, and laid down the guidelines for a referendum.
He died on 21 April 1995.
Military of Indonesia
The Indonesian National Armed Forces in 2009 comprises approximately 432,129 personnel including the Army , Navy including the Indonesian Marine Corps and the Air Force ....
General who was an eyewitness to the signing of the Supersemar
Supersemar
The Supersemar, the Indonesian abbreviation for Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret was a document signed by the Indonesian President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, giving the Army commander Lt. Gen. Suharto authority to take whatever measures he "deemed necessary" to restore order to the chaotic situation...
document transferring power from President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
to General Suharto.
Early life
Amirmachmud was born on 21 February 1923 at Cimahi, West Java. He was the second of five siblings and his father worked for a public companyPublic company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
under the Dutch Colonial Government.
After completing his education in 1940, Amirmachmud began thinking of a career which he would undertake. In 1941 he took a topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
course, although nothing ever came out of it.
The Japanese Occupation
In 1942, the Dutch Colonial Government was defeated by the Japanese Imperial Army and Indonesia came under the occupation of the Japanese Empire. By 1943, with the tide of the war beginning to turn against them, the Japanese established the Defenders of the Motherland Army (PETA). PETA was an auxiliary force which contained of Indonesians and was designed to bolster the amount of troops for the Japanese and assist them in fighting the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
should they decide to invade Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. Amirmachmud joined PETA and rose to become a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
Commander.
KODAM VI/Siliwangi
On 17 August 1945, nationalist leaders SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
and Mohammad Hatta
Mohammad Hatta
was born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies . He was Indonesia's first vice president, later also serving as the country's Prime Minister. Known as "The Proclamator", he and a number of Indonesians, including the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, fought for the independence of...
proclaimed Indonesia's Independence. Days later, Sukarno called for able-bodied Indonesians to collect weapons and group themselves in preparation of the establishment of an Indonesian Army. Militia groups known as the People's Security Body (BKR) were formed and Amirmachmud headed one in Lembang, West Java.
In 1946, after the People's Security Army (TKR) had been established, the Lembang BKR was integrated into Kodam VI/Siliwangi (Siliwangi Division
Siliwangi Division
The Siliwangi Division or KODAM VI/Siliwangi is the name of a formation of the Indonesian Army. The Division was formed during the Indonesian National Revolution by what was then known as the People's Security Army...
), a military regional command responsible for the security of West Java. Amirmachmud was then transferred to North Bandung, where he let his troops in battles against British troops and Dutch troops, who were eager to retain their colonial empire.
Amirmachmud and KODAM VI/Siliwangi was then forced to leave West Java in 1948 after the signing of the Renville Agreement. Under this agreement, the Indonesian Government was forced to recognize territories which had been taken under Dutch Control and this included West Java. Under the command of Colonel Abdul Haris Nasution
Abdul Haris Nasution
In this Indonesian name, the name "Nasution" is a family name, and the person should be referred to by the family name "Nasution".Abdul Haris Nasution was an Indonesian general who was twice appointed Army Chief of Staff and who escaped an assassination attempt during the...
, KODAM VI/Siliwangi was relocated in Central Java. During the same year, Amirmachmud would join his troops in a crackdown on the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
(PKI) at Madiun
Madiun
Madiun is a city in the western part of the province of East Java Indonesia, an agricultural centre. It is the capital of the regency of the same name....
.
In 1949, with the Dutch beginning to withdraw from Indonesia, Amirmachmud and his troops returned to West Java. There, Amirmachmud would be involved in skirmishes against the Darul Islam movement, a separatist group who wanted to establish a theocratic Indonesia under the religion of Islam. In 1950, Amirmachmud was also involved in a crackdown against the Just King Armed Forces (APRA
APRA
APRA or Apra may refer to:* American Popular Revolutionary Alliance , a Peruvian political party* Australasian Performing Right Association, a copyright collecting society...
), a military group which entered Bandung and started targeting TNI soldiers.
Once the situation began to settle down, Amirmachmud had a relatively uneventful military career and served as a Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
Commander in Tasikmalaya
Tasikmalaya
Tasikmalaya is a city in southeastern West Java, Indonesia, between Bandung and Purwokerto on the southerly of the two major road routes across Java...
and Garut
Garut
Garut is a town in the West Java province of Indonesia and is the capital of the Garut Regency. It is located about 75 km to the southeast of the major city of Bandung.-History:...
before being appointed a Regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al Chief of Staff in Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
. After serving in Bogor, Amirmachmud served as a Chief of Staff to the Commander of KODAM VI/Siliwangi.
Army Headquarters and Army Staff College (Seskoad)
In 1958, Amirmachmud was transferred to JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
where he worked as a staff member at the Army headquarters for two years.
In 1960, Amirmachmud was sent to Bandung to attend Seskoad. Here, he learned about politics and economics, important subjects for a soldier in an Army getting more and more involved in the running of the Government. Amirmachmud also became acquainted with Suharto during his time at Seskoad.
The Army General Reserve (Caduad) and Western New Guinea
Once he had completed his Seskoad course, Amirmachmud was appointed Caduad Deputy Chief of Staff. Caduad, who would go on to become KostradKostrad
Kostrad is the Indonesian Army's Strategic Reserve Command. Kostrad is a Corps level command which has up to 35,000 troops...
was a strategic force which was designed to be on stand by at all times so that it can easily be summoned during the case of national emergency. Caduad was commanded by Suharto, who appeared to like Amirmachmud enough to appoint him to his position.
In 1962, President Sukarno was determined that Indonesia would occupy Western New Guinea
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
and formed a war command for the liberation of Western New Guinea. For this operation, Suharto was appointed Field Commander and once again, he showed his trust in Amirmachmud by appointing him to the position of Head of the Operational Staff. However, after some minor military incursions, the Netherlands wielded under pressure of the United States and signed the New York Agreement
New York Agreement
The Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning West New Guinea , also known as the New York Agreement, was a treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the political status of West New Guinea...
to transfer Western New Guinea to Indonesia, provided a plebiscite would be held in which Western New Guinea could vote for independence.
KODAM X/Lambung Mangkurat
Amirmachmud would now have his first stint as a Regional Commander. In 1962, he was appointed Commander of KODAM X/Lambung Mangkurat, which was responsible for the security of South KalimantanSouth Kalimantan
South Kalimantan/South Borneo is one of the thirty-three Provinces of Indonesia and one of four Indonesian provinces in the Indonesian part of Borneo. The provincial capital is Banjarmasin...
.
It was during this time that the G30S Movement made their alleged coup attempt in Jakarta on 1 October 1965. During the day, the G30S Movement would announce the formation of the Revolutionary Council which would include Amirmachmud as a member. Amirmachmud, like many other anti-Communist Generals who were put on the list, was quick to deny the allegations. The day would finish with Suharto taking back control of the situation in Jakarta and PKI being accused as the culprit behind the G30S Movement.
KODAM V/Jaya
In December 1965, Amirmachmud was appointed Commander of KODAM V/Jaya and he was now responsible for the security of JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and its surrounding areas.
Amirmachmud's appointment came at a crucial point in Indonesian history and it was during his appointment that Suharto was beginning to gather political support and momentum to mount a challenge to Sukarno. Amirmachmud, like most of his Army colleagues threw their support behind Suharto.
At the beginning of 1966, Sukarno's popularity declined enough for people to openly oppose him via the means of protests. The most vocal of the protesters was the Indonesian Students Action Front (KAMI) who on the 10 January demanded that PKI be banned, PKI sympathizers be arrested and for the prices to be lowered. Amirmachmud and the Army supported, encouraged, and protected the protesters. To make things more practical, Amirmachmud together with Umar Wirahadikusumah
Umar Wirahadikusumah
was the fourth Indonesian Vice President; he served from 1983 to 1988.-Early life:Umar Wirahadikusumah was born on 10 October 1924 to Raden Rangga Wirahadikusumah and Raden Ratnaringrum...
(The Kostrad Commander) and Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
Sarwo Edhie Wibowo was one of Indonesia's most famous Generals.-Early life:Sarwo Edhie was born in Purworejo, Central Java to a family of civil servants working for the Dutch Colonial Government. As a child, he learned silat as a form of self-defense...
(The RPKAD Commander) authorized Kostrad Chief of Staff, Kemal Idris to take control of their troops which were now concentrated in Jakarta.
There was duality to Amirmachmud's stance at this point. Politically, he was with Suharto, the Army, and the anti-Sukarno protesters. At the same time however, he felt a professional responsibility to prevent Jakarta being reduced to chaos by all the protests and demonstrations. In February, Amirmachmud actually banned protests in Jakarta. This ban was ignored.
Supersemar
On 11 March 1966, Sukarno held a Cabinet Meeting and invited Amirmachmud along to attend. Before the meeting Sukarno asked Amirmachmud if the situation was secure to which Amirmachmud responded that it was. Sukarno then began meeting which was marked conspicuously by Suharto's absence. 10 Minutes into the meeting, Amirmachmud was approached by Brigadier General Sabur, the Commander of the Presidential Bodyguards. Sabur said that there are unidentified troops outside. Amirmachmud told Sabur to not worry about it.Five minutes later, Sabur repeated the message, this time notifying Sukarno of the problem as well. Sukarno quickly suspended the meeting and left the room with Amirmachmud intact. Insisting that Sukarno will be safe, Amirmachmud discussed security options with the President and decided that Bogor would be a safe enough place to avoid the tense situation.
The meeting was adjourned after Sukarno left for Bogor with a helicopter and Amirmachmud was joined by Major General Basuki Rachmat, who was the Minister of Veterans' Affairs and Brigadier General Mohammad Jusuf, who was the Minister of Industry. Jusuf suggested that the three of them go to Bogor to provide from moral support for Sukarno. The other two Generals agreed and together, the three left to Bogor after asking for Suharto's permission. According to Amirmachmud, Suharto asked the three Generals to tell Sukarno of his readiness to restore security should the President order it.
At Bogor, the three met with Sukarno and once again Amirmachmud said to Sukarno that the situation was secure. Sukarno became angry at him, asking how could the situation be secure when the protests are happening. Sukarno then began discussing options with Basuki, Jusuf, and Amirmachmud before finally asking them how he can take care of the situation. Amirmachmud suggested that Sukarno give Suharto some powers and govern Indonesia with him so that everything can be secured. The meeting then disbanded as Sukarno began preparing a Presidential Decree.
It was dusk when the decree that would become Supersemar
Supersemar
The Supersemar, the Indonesian abbreviation for Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret was a document signed by the Indonesian President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, giving the Army commander Lt. Gen. Suharto authority to take whatever measures he "deemed necessary" to restore order to the chaotic situation...
was finally prepared and awaiting Sukarno's signature. Sukarno had some last minute doubts but Amirmachmud, the other two Generals, and Sukarno's inner circle in the Cabinet who had also made the trip to Bogor encouraged him to sign. Sukarno finally signed and handed Supersemar to Basuki to be passed on to Suharto. On the way back to Jakarta, Amirmachmud asked to read Supersemar and seemed shocked to find out that it was a handover of power to Suharto. He would later claim that Supersemar was a miracle.
On the 13 March, Sukarno summoned Amirmachmud, Basuki, and Jusuf. Sukarno was angry that Suharto had banned the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
(PKI) and told the three Generals that Supersemar did not contain such instructions. Sukarno then ordered that a letter be produced to clarify the contents of Supersemar but nothing ever came up apart from the copies that former Cuban Ambassador, AM Hanafi recollected.
Minister of Home Affairs
As Suharto removed Sukarno from power and replaced him as President in 1967, Amirmachmud continued as Commander of Kodam V/Jaya. In early 1969, Basuki, who became the Minister of Home Affairs died suddenly. Amirmachmud was then transferred from his position as Commander to Kodam V/Jaya to take Basuki's place as Minister of Home Affairs.During his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs, Amirmachmud developed a reputation of being tough on Government opposition and dissidents. This earned him the nickname of "The Bulldozer
Bulldozer
A bulldozer is a crawler equipped with a substantial metal plate used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work and typically equipped at the rear with a claw-like device to loosen densely-compacted materials.Bulldozers can be found on a wide range of sites,...
. Amirmachmud also dealt harshly with the people who had gone to prison for allegedly being involved with PKI. In 1981, he ordered that the former convincts be given special supervision.
Amirmachmud also helped strengthen Suharto's control over Indonesia. In 1969, he banned civil servants from being involved in politics but would encourage them to vote to Golkar
Golkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
in Legislative Elections as a sign of loyalty to the Government. In 1971, Amirmachmud was influential in the formation of the Republic of Indonesia Civil Servants Corps (KORPRI).
Chairman of the General Elections Organization (LPU)
In addition to being Minister of Home Affairs, Amirmachmud was also the Chairman of the LPU. The Legislative Elections of 1971, 1977, and 1982 were held under his supervision.Chairman of the MPR and DPR
In 1982, Amirmachmud was elected as the chairman of the People's Consultative AssemblyPeople's Consultative Assembly
The People's Consultative Assembly is the legislative branch in Indonesia's political system. It is composed of the members of the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representative Council. Before 2004, and the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the MPR was the highest governing...
(MPR) and like all the other Chairmen of the MPR, he was also concurrently elected to the position of the speaker of the People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
(DPR).
Amirmachmud presided over the 1983 MPR General Session which saw Suharto being elected to a 4th term as President with Umar Wirahadikusumah being elected to the Vice Presidency. Under his Chairmanship, the MPR also awarded Suharto the title of "The Father of Development" in recognition of what he had achieved.
In the DPR, Amirmachmud presided the passing of laws which reorganized the structure of the MPR, DPR, and Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), set the rules for Political Parties, and laid down the guidelines for a referendum.
Retired Life and Death
Amirmachmud went into retirement after completing his term as the Chairman of MPR/Head of DPR.He died on 21 April 1995.
Family
Amirmachmud was married to Siti Hadidjah, with whom he had two children, Anon Badariah and Bambang Permadi Amirmachmud. The four star general had 10 grandchildren. When Siti died he remarried to Shri Hardhani Sadat Siswojo.Miscellaneous
Amirmachmud became close friends with fellow Supersemar witness, M Jusuf. Before he died, Amirmachmud had requested that Jusuf attend the funeral. This request was never fulfilled as Jusuf was unable to attend the funeral. Amirmachmud also left Jusuf a secret letter.Works
- Developing Politics at Home (1981)
- Developing A Religious Life In A Pancasila World (1981)
- Developing A Pancasila Social Culture (1983)