Murad Ismail

Murad Ismail (born 11 September 1961) is an Indonesian politician and former policeman who served as the Governor of Maluku between April 2019 and April 2024. Prior to becoming governor, Murad was a retired high-ranking National Police officer who became the Police Inspector General.

Early life and education He was born to a simple family in Waihaong, Ambon City on September 11, 1961. He studied elementary school in 1974, junior high school in 1977 and high school in 1981 in Ambon. After graduating from high school, he immediately entered the Indonesian National Police Academy and graduated in 1985.

Policing career After graduating from the Police Academy, Murad who held the rank of Police Inspector 2nd Class, and was assigned to the Central Sulawesi police as Platoon Commander of the KIE 5153 Central Sulawesi Police on 3 November 1985.

Murad was paired with Barnabas Orno as his running mate, and faced incumbent governor Said Assagaff, who had the support of Golkar, the Prosperous Justice Party, the Democratic Party, and the Crescent Star party. Independent candidate Herman Koedoeboen, also ran in the election.

Tenure

Swearing in Murad was sworn in as governor on 24 April 2019, by president Joko Widodo, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Together with his deputy governor, Barnabas.

Kempupera project controversy On 18 December 2019, Deputy Governor Barnabas Orno was summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission as a witness related to the alleged bribery of a road project at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing in 2016, when Orno was still the Regent of Southwest Maluku. Reportedly, Murad was only notified the day before, and was not consulted by Orno beforehand.

Covid-19 When the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Maluku, governor Murad established a series of "large-scale social restrictions," instead of lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus. Recently, governor Murad supported limited face-to-face learning in Ambon City to be implemented immediately. Stating "Now that Ambon is level 3, face-to-face learning must be carried out."

Dismissed as a party cadre by PDIP Murad was officially dismissed as an Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) cadre after Murad's wife, Widya Pratiwi joined the National Mandate Party (PAN) and also showed an emotional attitude to the Chairperson of the PDIP Central Leadership Council Djarot Saiful Hidayat when Djarot asked Murad for clarification regarding his wife, Widya Pratiwi joining a party other than PDI-P.

His term as governor ended on 24 April 2024, and provincial secretary Sadali Ie replaced him in an acting capacity.

Personal life Murad has a wife named Widya Pratiwi, and together they have for children. Including Mega Natasya, Reza Ananta P, Nabila Athaya Ismail, and Murad JR Ismail.