He is a former minister having held several positions, a former chairman of Indonesian Football Association and National Sports Committee of Indonesia.

In 1998, he received a master's degree from Indonesian Global Management Institute [id], a diploma mill that was banned in 2005.

In January 2018, Agum was appointed a member of the Presidential Advisory Council in a minor reshuffle, replacing Hasyim Muzadi who died in 2017.

In the first round of the election (July 5, 2004), the Hamzah – Agum team received relatively low support (only 3.5 million votes).

These results put the duo into fifth place on in the 2004 Indonesian presidential elections behind SBY – Jusuf Kalla, Megawati Sukarnoputri – Hasyim Muzadi, Wiranto – Solahuddin Wahid and Amien Rais – Siswono Yudohusodo.