Mochammad Anton
{{short description|Indonesian politician and businessman|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mochammad Anton
| native_name = {{nobold|魏兴安}}
| office = Mayor of Malang
| term_start = 13 September 2013
| term_end = 12 September 2018
| predecessor = Peni Suparto
| successor = Sutiaji
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Malang, East Java, Indonesia
| image = Wali Kota Malang Moch. Anton.jpg
}}
Mochammad Anton (born 31 December 1965) is an Indonesian politician and businessman who was the mayor of Malang, East Java between 2013 and 2018. In 2018, he was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Early life
Anton (Chinese: 魏兴安 Goei Hing An) was born in Malang on 31 December 1965 from Goei Heng An and Sumiati.{{cite news |title=Profil Walikota Malang 2013-2018 |url=http://ngalam.id/read/3121/profil-walikota-malang-2013-2018/ |accessdate=6 March 2019 |work=ngalam.id |date=24 May 2013 |language=id}}{{cite book |last1=Suryadinata |first1=Leo |title=Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches |date=2015 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=9789814620505 |pages=10–11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZO6gCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA10 |language=en|edition=4th }} He worked as a driver throughout high school and when he was studying at a university in Surabaya, and continued to do so after dropping out due to financial reasons.{{cite news |last1=Audinovic |first1=Vizcardine |title=Bekas sopir yang mengadu peruntungan jadi wali kota Malang |url=https://www.merdeka.com/politik/bekas-sopir-yang-mengadu-peruntungan-jadi-wali-kota-malang.html |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Merdeka |date=22 May 2013 |language=id}}
Career
Around 1998, he entered the treacle business, which was then seen as a waste product by sugar refineries, supplying flavoring factories. By 2013, he claimed to be supplying around 300,000 tons of treacle annually, with links to sugarcane farmers in West, Central and East Java. He also participated in the local offices of Nahdlatul Ulama and later the National Awakening Party (PKB).{{cite news |title=Abah Anton, Walikota Malang Pertama dari Etnis Tionghoa |url=https://ngalam.co/2017/01/29/abah-anton-walikota-malang-pertama-etnis-tionghoa/ |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Ngalam.co |date=29 January 2017 |language=id-ID}}
=Mayor=
In 2013, Anton participated in Malang's mayoral election with the endorsement of PKB and Gerindra, winning after securing 179,675 votes.{{cite news |last1=Hayati |first1=Istiqomatul |title=Hasil Pilkada Kota Malang Dibawa ke MK |url=https://nasional.tempo.co/read/484769/hasil-pilkada-kota-malang-dibawa-ke-mk/full&view=ok |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Tempo |date=31 May 2013 |language=id}} He was sworn in on 13 September 2013, becoming the city's first Chinese Indonesian mayor.{{cite news |last1=Khumaini |first1=Anwar |title=Di Jakarta ada Ahok, di Malang ada Abah Anton |url=https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/di-jakarta-ada-ahok-di-malang-ada-abah-anton.html |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Merdeka |date=4 March 2016 |language=id}} His work as mayor included the reduction of bureaucratic procedures and the establishment of "thematic" villages to where the localities would develop unique products.{{cite news |last1=Iskandar |first1=Eddy Dwinanto |title=Manis Buah Sinergi di Kota Malang |url=https://swa.co.id/swa/trends/manis-buah-sinergi-di-kota-malang |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=SWA |date=5 September 2017 |language=id}} In addition, the city also set up injection wells and waste banks.
On 27 March 2018, Anton was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission for bribing the city council to approve the 2015 budget. Large numbers of the city councillors were also arrested.{{cite news |last1=Widiastuti |first1=Rina |title=Wali Kota Malang Mochammad Anton Ditahan KPK |url=https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1073915/wali-kota-malang-mochammad-anton-ditahan-kpk/full&view=ok |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Tempo |date=27 March 2018 |language=id}} He was sentenced to 2 years in prison and fined Rp 100 million on 10 August 2018.{{cite news |title=Wali Kota Malang M Anton Divonis 2 Tahun, Ratusan Pendukungnya Penuhi Pengadilan Tipikor Surabaya |url=http://jatim.tribunnews.com/2018/08/10/wali-kota-malang-m-anton-divonis-2-tahun-ratusan-pendukungnya-penuhi-pengadilan-tipikor-surabaya |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=Tribun Jatim |date=10 August 2018 |language=id-ID}} He was released from prison after completing his term on 29 March 2020.{{cite news |title=Jalani Hidup di Penjara Dua Tahun, Hari Ini Abah Anton Bebas |url=https://timesindonesia.co.id/amp/peristiwa-daerah/260420/jalani-hidup-di-penjara-dua-tahun-hari-ini-abah-anton-bebas |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=TIMES Indonesia |date=29 March 2020 |language=id}}
During his arrest, Anton would lose in the city's mayoral election - while still winning 135,710 votes (36.59%) - and he was succeeded by his deputy Sutiaji.{{cite news |title=Rekapitulasi KPU Malang: Sutiaji-Edi Unggul Atas 2 Paslon Lain yang Ditahan KPK |url=https://regional.kompas.com/read/2018/07/05/23234591/rekapitulasi-kpu-malang-sutiaji-edi-unggul-atas-2-paslon-lain-yang-ditahan |accessdate=17 March 2019 |work=KOMPAS |date=5 July 2018 |language=id}}{{cite web |title=Pemilihan Walikota/Bupati Kota Malang |url=https://infopemilu.kpu.go.id/pilkada2018/hasil/penetapan/t2/jawa_timur/kota_malang |website=infopemilu.kpu.go.id |accessdate=19 March 2019 |language=id}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:21st-century mayors of places in Indonesia
Category:Indonesian politicians of Chinese descent
Category:National Awakening Party politicians