Zaenal Maarif

Zaenal Ma'arif (14 September 195515 February 2023) was an Indonesian lecturer and politician who was a founding member of the Reform Star Party. He became the deputy speaker of the Surakarta city council from 1997 until 1999 and the deputy speaker of the People's Representative Council from 2004 until 2006.

Early life and education Zaenal was born on 14 September 1955 in Surakarta, Central Java, as the youngest of ten children. Zaenal began his studies at the Muslim Teacher's Elementary School in Surakarta and finished in 1967. He then continued at Muhammadiyah junior high school and high school, from which he graduated in 1971 and 1975.

After finishing his basic education, Zaenal moved to Yogyakarta and began studying law at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM). During his time in the university, Zaenal joined various student movements, such as the Muslim Students' Association, Union of Muhammadiyah Students, and Muhammadiyah Youth. He graduated in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in law.

After about two years, he stopped working as a lawyer due to a disagreement with his mother, who preferred him to work as a lecturer. Zaenal returned to Surakarta and began teaching law at the Surakarta Muhammadiyah University. He became the secretary to the university's rector in 1985 and served until 1992. Zaenal was nominated as the deputy speaker of the People's Representative Council alongside Muhaimin Iskandar and Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno in an agreement between the leaders of several parliamentary parties. The People's Representative Council approved the nomination, and Zaenal was installed as deputy speaker on 6 October 2004. and replaced as MP on 31 July 2007 following his second marriage with Yanni Natalia Lodewijk. PBR stated that the party "actively supported women's rights" and "strongly discouraged its members from committing polygamy".

Death Zaenal died at the Dr. Moewardi Hospital in Surakarta on 15 February 2023, at age 67. He was buried at his family's cemetery in Karanganyar Regency.