Iskandar was born on 25 July 1946 in Curup, a small town in the Bengkulu region.[1] Iskandar entered the National Military Academy after graduating from high school and began his military career as a second lieutenant in 1970.[2] He held various commands in the Indonesian Army, including the 621th Manuntung Infantry Battalion, from 1985 until 1986.[3] Iskandar also studied at the University of Indonesia and obtained a Master of Science degree from the university in 1995.[4] After that, Iskandar pursued further military studies for a few months at the Indonesian Armed Forces Staff and Command School (Sesko ABRI).[5]
When Iskandar was sworn in as vice governor, he was still active in the military with the rank of colonel. He was promoted to brigadier general on 1 October 1996.[6] Following the armed forces internal reformation that occurred in 1998, active military officers were banned from holding political offices, and Iskandar was retired from the military in 1999.[7]
Shortly after finishing studying at Sesko ABRI, Iskandar was appointed as the vice governor of Bengkulu. He was installed on 9 January 1996, along with two other vice governors,[5] by Minister of Home Affairs Yogie Suardi Memet.[8]
Following the 2000 Enggano earthquake, Iskandar headed the earthquake's relief task force.[9] Iskandar described that the main problem for the survivors was clean water access, as water pipes had already been damaged during the earthquake.[10]
After his term as vice governor ended, Iskandar continued to be involved in local Bengkulu politics. He led the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono campaign team in Bengkulu in the 2004[11] and 2009 presidential election.[12] After Yudhoyono won the presidency, Iskandar became a high-ranking official of the Bengkulu branch of the Democratic Party.[13] Ramis also ran as a candidate for the People's Representative Council from the party in the 2009 Indonesian legislative election but lost to the top most candidate from the party list.[14]
Aside from being involved in politics, Iskandar owns a gas station[17][18] and a mosque[19] in Bengkulu City. Iskandar also became a leading member of the Bengkulu Customary Council,[20] Bengkulu Counter Terrorism Coordination Forum,[21] Bengkulu Indonesian Governmental Society,[22] and Bengkulu Union of Hajj Brotherhood.[23]
Iskandar was brought to the emergency department while making calamansi juice in 2014. He accidentally spilled ice water from the fridge, causing him to slip and strike his head on a wall. Iskandar had to receive several stitches in his head after the accident.[24]
^Angkatan Bersenjata, Indonesia (March 1996). "Mendagri Lantik Dua Wagub". Mimbar Kekaryaan. No. 303. p. 62. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2021.