ALI Murtopo is often mentioned as the architect of the New Order. It was not because he was President Suharto's personal aide nor that he eventually became the information minister. Ali Murtopo was an extension of the president, as he infi ltrated the many diverse groups in Indonesian society, either to make or break them. Traces of his special operations can be found in almost every incident of that period, ranging from the conspiracy to bring down President Sukarno to eliminating all parties opposing Golkar, pitting one movement against another, including building up radical Islamic groups which rendered moderate Muslim groups powerless. All of this was aimed at establishing, reinforcing and securing the power of the New Order.