Tato ibu susi pudjiastuti biography

BBC Indonesian Editor

Indonesia has never had a political figure like Susi Pudjiastuti.

The minister of maritime affairs is a tattooed high school dropout turned self-made businesswomen, and is leading a tough crackdown on illegal and unsustainable fishing.

Hundreds of boats have been blown up on her orders.

When President Joko Widodo was asked why he appointed her back in 2014, he said he needed "a crazy person in order to make a breakthrough".

Now, her outspoken style has turned her into something of a pop culture icon.

And landed her on this year's BBC 100 Women list.

All this in a country home to the world's largest Muslim population and which, in general, thinks poorly of its politicians.

Ms Pudjiastuti has been painted as Superwoman on a public mural, depicted as a half mermaid-half warrior and as a manga comic action figure.