Muhammad Zakir


Muhammad Zakir was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the mayor of Tegal, Central Java from 1989 until his removal in 1998.

Career

Zakir, with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Indonesian Army, was sworn in as the mayor of Tegal on 12 June 1989. He had previously been commander of the city's military district between 1984 and 1987.
Following the fall of Suharto, tensions developed between Tegal's citizens and Zakir due to the latter's perceived arrogance. Further issues included Zakir's intervention in the city's woodworking industry and the city's rejection of kuningisasi. Following large-scale student protests, the city's Regional House of Representatives voted to withdraw their support for Zakir, and he was removed as mayor by the Minister of Home Affairs on 23 September 1998.

Later life and death

After his removal from office, he was sentenced for corruption related to several municipal projects in 1997–1998 by the Tegal District Court in 2000 and was sentenced to two years' prison, in addition to a fine of Rp 73 million. Following failed appeals, he was jailed in 2007 for 23 months. He died on 11 May 2012.