The Story of Muslim "Susi" Ibrahim, Former GAM Combatants Become Palm Oil Owners |

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THREE years after graduating from high school in 1995, armed conflict broke out in Aceh and dragged Muslim Ibrahim into becoming part of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) army. The alumni of SMA Negeri 1 Kuta Makmur, North Aceh, Indonesia, joined the Pase Regional 2 Region troop, North Aceh. Unmitigated, he immediately received training in assembling bombs with simple equipment.

As part of the guerrillas, Muslim admits that he was involved in several shootouts with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and several times that his life was threatened. However, Muslims escaped death until the Government of Indonesia signed a Peace Agreement with GAM in Helsinki, Finland, on August 15, 2005. GAM guerrillas returned to integrate with civil society, including Muslim Ibrahim (now 45 years).

Post-conflict, Muslim worked as a foreman at PT Cimita Rata in North Aceh. The company, which operates in the rubber sector, is a partner of PT Satya Agung, a palm oil company that owns around 11,000 hectares of land in North Aceh.

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Working at PT Cimita Rata, opened the opportunity for Muslim to become an employee of PT Satya Agung in 2007, again as a land clearing foreman. He had become the laughingstock of former GAM guerrillas. "During the conflict living in the forest, it was already peaceful even in the forest," said Muslim, imitating his friends' sarcasm. However, he was determined to choose to become a farmer rather than follow in the footsteps of his friends who entered politics.

His income as a freelance daily worker at PT Satya Agung is only IDR 21,000 per day. When the second year it rose to Rp. 32,000, it still did not meet the minimum needs even though he also worked at Cimita Rata. Muslims have always dreamed of owning their own palm oil fields. After saving for two years, the dream finally came true.

He bought one hectare of vacant land for Rp. 7 million, which is located not far from where he lives in Meunasah Mancang Village, Simpang Keuramat District, North Aceh. At that time, a lot of vacant land was being sold cheaply because it was still in an atmosphere of armed conflict, but few people dared to buy it.

After being cleared by hired workers, then Muslim bought 130 one-year-old Marihat type of palm seeds. "Seeds a year and older are safer from pests like pigs, rats, or porcupines," said Muslim in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Tuesday, June 11, 2023.

Every morning when he goes to work, he brings a maximum of five seeds. During the afternoon break, he planted one stalk and when he came home from work he planted it again. With such persistence, two months later the one-hectare land was filled with oil palm plantations.

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To protect the seedlings from the threat of pests, especially pigs, Muslims make individual fences from zinc or palm fronds by directing the thorns outward. "I learned a technique like that in Bukit Tawang (North Sumatra)," said Muslim who is familiarly called Susi by fellow former combatants.

Regarding this designation, Muslim said, it arose when military exercises were in conflict. Because her movements were judged to be kemayu, the other guerrillas immediately called her Susi. "That nickname has stuck to this day," he said with a laugh.

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A year after buying the first land, Muslim bought a second 2.2-hectare land for IDR 15 million. It is more expensive because there is already palm oil in it but it has never been treated. "I took care of him from scratch. Six months already visible results. I do everything myself in between work activities, except for certain jobs, I pay casual daily laborers,” said the father of one child.

He enjoyed his first harvest of around 1.5 tonnes in 2014 which was sold to collectors for IDR 800 per kilogram. This success made him confident to apply for credit to Bank Rakyat Indonesia and get a loan of Rp. 25 million in 2015 and can be paid in installments smoothly.

His success as an honest debtor made it easy for Muslim to get further credit, so he returned to expanding his land. Now, he already has 20 hectares with adjacent locations to facilitate monitoring and maintenance.

Of the 20 hectares, 11 hectares have been planted with oil palm. The rest will be paid in installments until all the land is filled and that will take time because the 9 hectares is still forest that must be cleared. He targets that by 2025, 20 hectares of land can be planted with oil palm.

"In the past, I cleared land by burning, but because of air pollution, I don't do this technique anymore," added Muslim, who aims to plant two hectares of land every year.

Now he has six permanent employees who help manage his land. During the harvest or fertilization season, the number of casual daily laborers can increase as needed. This dark-skinned man is now the master of his employees, while he is also still listed as a worker at PT Satya Agung.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Muslims said they did not experience any problems. He and his employees work as usual and earn a decent income. The pandemic has indeed hit various business sectors, but not oil palm plantations. Finally, Muslim harvested 6.5 tons of palm oil which was sold at IDR 1,920 per kg.

The success of Muslims to become oil palm farmers from scratch inspired many GAM combatants. The Indonesian government has empowered former combatants by providing cheap land, but not all of them have succeeded in becoming oil palm smallholders. Muslim is an exception because he has perseverance, patience, business networks, and access to banking, and is supported by his willingness to learn from various parties about managing oil palm plantations.[]

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