Jusuf kalla, quick decision makers

Muhammad Jusuf Kalla is an Indonesian politician who was the 10th Vice President of Indonesia from 2004 to 2009 and Chairman of the Golkar Party during the same period. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 2009 presidential election. Kalla's name is mentioned as a possible candidate in the run up to the Indonesian presidential election, 2014.

Jusuf Kalla was born on 15 May 1942 in Watampone, South Sulawesi. His parents were Hadji Kalla, a local businessman and Athirah, a woman who sold Buginese silk for a living.He was the second child out of 10.

After completing school, Kalla attended the University of Hasanuddin in Makassar. There, he became active with the Indonesian Student Action Front (KAMI), a student organization which supported General Suharto in his bid to gain power from President Sukarno and was elected as Chairman of its South Sulawesi branch.He also had the beginnings of a political career, becoming a member of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) and Chairman of the Youth Division of Golkar when it still adopted a Joint Secretariat (Sekber) format.

Kalla is married to Mufidah, with whom he has five children, Muchlisa, Muswira, Imelda, Solichin and Chaerani.His career after vice presidency includes many social activities. On December 22, 2009, he was elected to became chairman of Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia, PMI). Kalla said that under his leadership, the PMI would improve the national blood stock to prepare for any increased demand for blood by hospital patients and victims of natural disasters.