The Acehnese people can be proud of Teuku Markam as born as Ulee Balang, he is the biggest contributor of Monas gold. Born in 1925. His father Teuku Marhaban. His village is Seuneudon and Alue Capli, Panton Labu Aceh Utara. Since childhood Teuku Markam has become an orphan. When the age of 9 years, Teuku Marhaban died. While his mother had already died. Teuku Markam was then raised by his brother Cut Nyak Putroe. Had tasted education until grade 4 SR (Sekolah Rakyat).
Teuku Markam grew up and became a young man and entered a Military service at Koeta Radja (Banda Aceh now) and graduated with the rank of first lieutenant. Teuku Markam joined the Indonesian People's Army (TRI) and joined the battle in Tembung, North Sumatra together with General Bejo, Kaharuddin Nasution, Bustanil Arifin and others.
During his stint in North Sumatra, Teuku Markam was active in various battlefields. He even reconciled the clash between Simbolon's forces and Manaf Lubis's troops. As a liaison officer, Teuku Markam was then sent by Commander General Bejo to Jakarta to meet the government leaders. By the leader, Teuku Markam was sent again to Bandung to become the adjutant of General Gatot Soebroto. The task was carried Markam until Gatot Soebroto passed away. It is Gatot Soebroto who also entrust Teuku Markam to meet with President Soekarno. At that time, Bung Karno wanted the existence of indigenous businessmen who really could handle the problems of the Indonesian economy. In 1957, when Teuku Markam took the rank of captain (NRP 12276), returned to Aceh and established Karkam company.
He had clashed with Teuku Hamzah (Commander of Kodam Iskandar Muda) for being "put" by others. As a result Teuku Markam was arrested and only out in 1958. The conflict with Teuku Hamzah was successfully reconciled by Sjamaun Gaharu.
Out of the custody, Teuku Markam returned to Jakarta with PT Karkam. The company is trusted by the Government of RI to manage the war reparation to be a revolutionary fund. Next Teuku Markam really wrestles the business world with a number of assets in the form of boats and some boat docks in Palembang, Medan, Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya. Business Teuku Markam increasingly widespread because he also plunged in export - import with a number of countries. Among others are importing Toyota Hardtop cars from Japan, concrete iron, steel plate and even had time to import weapons with the approval of the Ministry of Defense and Security (Dephankam) and the President.
Teuku Markam's commitment is to support the full RI struggle including the liberation of West Irian as well as the eradication of illiteracy which was then spurred all out by Soekarno. Business results Teuku Markam reputedly also become a source of state budget and collect 28 kg of gold to be placed at the top of the National Monument (Monas). As we know that the Monas project is one of the dreams of Soekarno in improving the dignity of the nation. The role of Teuku Markam to succeed the Asian-African Summit is not small thanks to the help of some funds for the purposes of the Summit.
Teuku Markam is one of the Indonesian conglomerates known closely to the Soekarno government and other officials such as Minister of Public Works Ir Sutami, politicians Adam Malik, Soepardjo Rustam, Kaharuddin Nasution, Bustanil
Arifin, Suhardiman, entrepreneur Probosutedjo and others. In the Soekarno era, the name of Teuku Markam was amazingly popular. To the extent that Teuku Markam once said as a shadow cabinet of Sukarno.
History then turned around. The role and contribution of Teuku Markam in building the Indonesian economy seemed to be meaningless in the eyes of the New Order government. He was slandered as a PKI and accused of corruption and Sukarnoism. The allegations later led Teuku Markam to prison in 1966. He was thrown into a cell without trial. First, he was put in prison Budi Utomo, then transferred to Guntur, then moved to Salemba prison Jln Percetakan Negara. Then moved again to detention Cipinang, and last transferred to the prison Nirbaya, prisoners for politicians in the area of Pondok Gede East Jakarta. In 1972 he fell ill and was forced to be treated at RSPAD Gatot Subroto for approximately two years.
The transition of power from Soekarno to Soeharto made the life of Teuku Markam difficult and concerned. He was released in 1974. This, too, was reportedly, thanks to the good merits of his loyal friends. Teuku Markam was released unceremoniously without any compensation from the New Order government. "It is true that, when it Teuku Markam will not demand their rights. But at the time he was right oppressed and persecuted," said Teuku Syauki Markam, one of the sons Teuku Markam.
Soeharto as Chairman of the Presidium of the Ampera Cabinet, on August 14, 1966 to take over the assets Teuku Markam form of offices, land and others who later managed by PT PP Berdikari established Suhardiman for and on behalf of the Indonesian government. Suhardiman, Bustanil Arifin, Amran Zamzami (the last two are Acehnese figures in Jakarta) including Markam's friends. But not much help to restore the assets of PT Karkam. Instead they manage the assets under the banner of PT PP Berdikari. Suhardiman was the first person to lead the company. In the board of directors listed Sukotriwarno, Edhy Tjahaja, and Amran Zamzami. Next PP Berdikari led by Lt. Gen. Achmad Tirtosudiro, Drs Ahman Nurhani, and Bustanil Arifin SH.
In 1974, Suharto issued Presidential Decree N0 31 of 1974 which, among other treasures assertion status ex PT Karkam / PT Aslam / PT Sinar Pagi taken over the government of Indonesia in 1966 the status of "borrowing" the value of which Rp 411,314,924.29 as inclusion State capital in PT PP Berdikari. The presidential decree was published exactly in the year of Teuku Markam's release from detention.
World Bank Project
Out of prison, in 1974, Teuku Markam established PT Marjaya and worked on World Bank projects for infrastructure development in Aceh and West Java. But none of the gigantic projects that PT Marjaya did in Aceh or West Java, would be inaugurated by the Soeharto government. The PT Marjaya project in Aceh includes the construction of Bireuen - Takengon Road, West Aceh, South Aceh, Medan - Banda Aceh, PT PIM and others. Teuku Syauki guessed that the New Order regime was very afraid if Teuku Markam got up again. For this reason, said Teuku Syauki, Markam's projects "are considered" last wind. Teuku Markam died in 1985 due to complications of various diseases in Jakarta. Until his death, the government had never rehabilitated his name. Even now.
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