Pre-independence For a time, he worked as an employee of the postal service. Muljadi helped with the 1934 founding of a radio station in Surakarta, the SRI (
Siaran Radio Indonesia), and he later became a well-known broadcaster on that station. He was also active in various Islamic organizations prior to the outbreak of
WW2.
Post-1945 During the
Indonesian National Revolution, Muljadi became a leading figure within the
pemuda movement in Surakarta, specifically the
Barisan Banteng organization which he co-founded with
Moewardi. At one point, when a leader for the newly formed
People's Security Agency was about to select a commander, Muljadi was nominated as one of six potential candidates, and in a public vote just two voted for him, with most voting for either
Sudirman (who won) and
Urip Sumohardjo. Due to disputes between the central government and the local militants and authorities in Surakarta, Muljadi alongside other leading figures including Moewardi was briefly arrested in late May 1946. However, large-scale rallies coupled with an ultimatum from Barisan Banteng leader
Sudiro who threatened to resign and hence leave the
pemuda uncontrolled, resulted in Muljadi's release on 31 May. He again was arrested by Dutch authorities after
Operation Kraai in February 1949 when he refused to join the Dutch-formed "Islamic Council" for Surakarta. Muljadi was a member of the where he served as chairman as early as 1951, and maintained his seat following the
1955 election. He was present as one of five Masyumi representatives at the presidential palace in April 1957 after Sukarno decreed a state of war the previous month in the aftermath of the
Second Ali Sastroamidjojo Cabinet's resignation. As he approved of Sukarno's decision to issue said decree, he was later appointed a minister within the new
Djuanda Cabinet.
Johannes Leimena was initially appointed as Minister of Social Affairs, but as he was promoted to Deputy First Minister, Muljadi was appointed to replace him on 24 May 1957. While his approval was in line with some leaders within Masyumi, most of Masyumi and
Muhammadiyah's leadership saw his actions as making the organization bow to pressure from Sukarno, which they saw as violating the constitution. Shortly after his appointment, the Muhammadiyah plenary meeting held on 1–2 June 1957 in
Yogyakarta removed him from the organization's leadership committee (in which he was vice-chairman) and expelled from the organization. After his appointment, Muljadi would serve as Minister for Social Affairs until the end of the
First Working Cabinet, and then resumed his post with the title Junior Minister during the
Second Working Cabinet, in which he also served as Minister for People's Welfare. In the
Third Working Cabinet until the end of the
Revised Dwikora Cabinet, he became Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare. He served one last ministerial term as Social Affairs Minister in the
Second Revised Dwikora Cabinet. ==Notes==