[1] In the movie The Act of Killing we can see his friendship with the executioner Anwar Congo as well as Arifin praising the use of "preman", i.e gangsters, to rule Indonesia.

He was appointed as a member of the Langkat Regency Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) in the period 1977-1982 and 1982-1987.

After gaining experience in the DPRD, Syamsul Arifin was then trusted to lead Langkat Regency as Regent for two periods, namely 1999-2004 and 2004-2008.

Syamsul has been officially dismissed from his position as Governor of North Sumatra by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

[2] Syamsul married Fatimah Habiebie on May 26 1974 and was blessed with three children, including Beby Arbiana and Aisia Samira, and Farid Nugraha who has died.