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. Career After graduating from UGM, Zaenal began working as a private lawyer. In 1983, Zaenal was sent to Jakarta by his senior, Adnan Buyung Nasution, to act as defense counsel for Darul Islam leader Adah Djaelani Tirtapradja, who the government tried for subversion. In a later interview, Zaenal stated that the event was his first time visiting Jakarta. 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. Political career Zaenal started his involvement in politics after he joined Surakarta's branch of the United Development Party (PPP) in 1989. He became the branch's legal counselor. He became the secretary of the branch several years later and was elected as a member of the Surakarta Regional People's Representative Council (the city council) in 1997. Zaenal openly encouraged Harmoko, the speaker of the People's Representative Council, to use the domestically-made Timor car as his official car instead of the Swedish-made Volvo. He also encouraged Surakarta citizens to stop paying their electric bills to the State Electricity Company. Zaenal's term in the city council was supposed to end in 2002, but the political developments following the fall of Suharto forced elections to be held earlier in 1999. He was nominated as a