A black-and-white documentary set to the song Bangun Pemudi Pemuda (Rise Up, Young People!) was uploaded to YouTube. The documentary, which runs just over three minutes, features the faces of the ministers of the newly inaugurated Sjahrir II Cabinet. Among them was the only female minister: Maria Ullfah. At the age of 35, she was entrusted with the position of Minister of Social Affairs.
Before being offered the position of Minister of Social Affairs, Maria was offered the role of Minister Without Portfolio, a non-departmental ministerial position. Sjahrir needed a female minister to prove to the Allies that the government of the Republic of Indonesia was not a puppet of Japanese fascism, but rather was built on democracy grounded in equality. Sjahrir saw Maria as the right person to join the cabinet. However, Sjahrir changed his mind and asked Maria to serve as Minister of Social Affairs instead of a minister without portfolio. “I was a bit hesitant to accept the offer. After all, it was originally just to be a Minister Without Portfolio,” said Maria.
Maria also noted that there were other female figures more senior than her, namely S.K. Trimurti. “A tenacious nationalist who was imprisoned many times during the Dutch colonial period,” said Maria. Feeling she wasn’t ready to be a minister, Maria declined Sjahrir’s offer, citing her lack of experience. Upon hearing her refusal, Sjahrir replied, “I never studied to become Prime Minister either.”
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