Prof. Dr. Saleh Afif was one of graduate students of the University of Indonesia in 1959. He finished his studies from the University of California at Berkeley, USA in 1967. He was a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia.
He had a long time career in the government of the Republic of Indonesia. He had been a minister for Administrative Reform concurrently as vice chairman of the National Development Planning Agency on Cabinet Development IV (1983-1988). He also held positions as Minister for National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas in Cabinet Development V (1988-1993) and Coordinating Minister of Economy and Finance of Indonesia in Cabinet Development VI (1993-1998). Prof. Dr. Saleh Afiff died at the age of 74 years in June 2005.