TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hutomo Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former President Soeharto, is joining the race to become the Functional Group Party's (Golkar) new leader.
Nurdin Halid, chairman of Golkar's extraordinary national congress (Munaslub) steering committee, said Hutomo—also known as Tommy Suharto—is running to be a candidate for the party's chairman.
Other cadres who are also running to become the chairman of the New Order's political machine include Ade Komaruddin, Airlangga Hartarto, Aziz Syamsuddin, Indra Bambang Utoyo, Mahyudin, Priyo Budi Santoso, Setya Novanto, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, and Wati Amir.
"We invited Pak Tommy Soeharto because he is participating [in the election]," Halid told the other candidates during the Munaslub's socialization event in Jakarta, Monday, May 2, 2016.
Halid also said Tommy has not made a "declaration" about his candidacy, but it will not stop him from running. "There are also other candidates that have not made a declaration yet," he said.
Tommy did not attend the Munaslub's socialization event. But Halid said that the youngest son from Cendana sent a team of delegates to join the event on his behalf.
On the same occasion, Halid also announced that Idrus Marham has withdrawn his candidacy. He did not say why.
ANTARA
