Bismo Anugrah | English Literature

During the chaos expansion effort of Japanese to Pacific, together with the legend treasure of the kingdoms from Europe in South East Asia. So in year 1939, Liem Sioe Liong, followed the carrier of his eldest brother. From Fukien , he departed to Amoy, and there was a Dutch trade ship which took him across China sea. One month later he arrived in Indonesia. In the old times, Kudus City has been well known as the center of cigarettes factory needed raw materials, such as tabacco and cloves. And since the era revolution, Liem Sioe Liong has been well trained as clove supplier, smuggling such raw materials from Molucca, Sumatera, North Celebes, via Singapore and then through special route for smuggling Kudus. So, it is no doubt clove business is one of main business pillar of Liem Sioe Liong for the first time, beside textile sector he imported long time ago less expensive textile  from Shanghai.

In Kudus, Liem made acquaintance with a girl from Lasem. The girl studied in Dutch School – Liem proposed for marriage but the girl’s parents did not allow, because they were afraid their daughter would taken away to China. They worried because they saw, the face of Liem still was typical China. But Liem did not give up. Finally, his proposed marriage was accpeted and allowd to get married. The wedding party was celebrated for 12 days. It was understood, that the wife’s family was high ranked people. After that getting married Liem worked harder and harder. His business grew boomingly. But the beginning of year 1940 when Japan colonized Indonesia, his business went bankrupt. After that, he got accident. His car crashed to the gap and all his friends were dead. Only Liem saved after he was unconsciousness for two days, then he moved to Jakarta.

In line with the era of government and new oder development, his business developed very fast. In year 1969, Mr. Liem together with Sudwikatmono, Djuhar Sutanto and Ibrahim Risjad, who where knwon later on as The Gang of Four, established CV Waringin Kentjana. Mr. Liem acted as Chairman and Sudwikatmono as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

In year 1970, they established flour factory PT Bogasari with government’s loan capital from Government. Bogasari has monopolised supply of flour from Western Indonesia covering 2/3 (two third) popluation of Indonesia. Besides, PT Prima for Eastern Indonesia. Almost in every company of Liem Sioe Liong, he collaborated with Djuhar Sutanto aslo known as Lin Wen Chiang who wa also Chinese, Fukien. Bogasari is private company which was unique in Indonesia.

May be only Bogasari was provided with facility of their own harbour and big ships in connection with flour and cloud approach directly to factory.

For the first time, PT Bogasari at Asemka street, Jakarta with office’s width only 100 meter square. Then in year 1975, this group established cement factory Indocement Tunggal Perkasa. The factory grew sharply and even almost monopolised cement product Indonesia. This group ever called Tycoon cement. After that, The Gang of Four was added to Ciputra to established real estate company PT Metropolitan Development, which building luxiorious housing, such as Pondok Indah dan Kota Mandiri Serpong Damai. Beside that Mr. Liem also set up business kingdom automotive field under the flag of PT Indomobil.

Even, expanding to banking by setting up Bank Central Asia (BCA) together with Mochtar Riyadi. In year 1970, Bank Central Asia has grown to become second big private bank in Indonsia with total asset of USD $99 Million. Lately, Mochtar Riady set up Lippo bank. At the time, Mr. Liem has ever been the richest person in Indonesia and Asia. And he has been registered in list of 100 persons as the richest people in Indonesia, Asia and in the world. However, in line with the fall of President Soeharto and as a result of monetary crisis, business and his assets went down. Mr. Liem decided to live in Singapore, after his hous at Gunung Sahari street had been robbed due to reformation era. After happening, he started to deviate business property to his son Anthony Salim, and he moved and lived in Singapore until he dead. He was well known by the society who is so close with second President Indonesia, Soeharto. In addition his business is continued by his son, that is Anthony Salim and his son in law, that is Franciscus Welirang.

He was so smart in economic field of Indonesia at present, may be to be the focus of magazine Insight, Asia’s Business Monthly issued in Hongkong in May publication this yea, featuring painting Liem Sioe Liong in caricature wearing Napoleon Bonaparte style. His chest is full badges of his company.

Each division supervises huge companies in the form of limited companies. Some possibilities to expand the speed up of company neverthless would not increase capital, such as go-public in share market Jakarta carried out by Soedono Salim group intensively. Handicaps or business issue threating his company, seemed not to worry Liem. As he said to review magazine “If you only hear what the people said you could be crazy. You must what you convince”.

With his belief of his short sentence, it brought young Liem Sioe Liong in Kudus also as Lin Shao Liang  as Soedono Salim, the king of trade Indonesia, lately. Soedono Salim or Liem Sioe Liong died at the age of 96 years. Based on information, the greatest business died in Singapore on 10^th June 2012