Throughout the history of modern Indonesia, the Batak community has been a significant contributor. Batak people have filled a wide range of occupations, from running modest tire service workshops to serving as state ministers. The modern Batak have gravitated towards professions such as attorneys, bus and taxi drivers, mechanics, engineers, singers and musicians, writers and journalists, teachers, economists, scientists, and military officers. Important figures such as local king (Sisingamangaraja XII), two Indonesian prime ministers (Amir Syarifuddin Harahap, Burhanuddin Harahap), speakers of the parliament (Zainul Arifin Pohan, Akbar Tanjung), one vice president (Adam Malik Batubara), two governors of the central bank (Darmin Nasution, Arifin Siregar), one attorney general (Marsillam Simanjuntak), and many influential cabinet ministers (Albert Mangaratua Tambunan, Ferdinand Lumbantobing, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, M.S. Kaban, Tifatul Sembiring), business magnate and entrepreneurs (Chairul Tanjung), legendary military figures with five-star general (Abdul Harris Nasution) and leading-generals (T. B. Simatupang, Maraden Panggabean, Feisal Tanjung) are well-known as prominent persons that shape Indonesian history.