TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Media mogul-cum-chairman of the newly-established United Indonesia Party (Perindo) Hary Tanoesoedibjo said he had joined the opposition with the Red and White Coalition (KMP). Hary made this statement when attending the inauguration of members of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra)’s central executive board (DPP) on Wednesday.
“Since we supported Prabowo during the presidential race, we have been fighting for the KMP,” Hary said at the DPP Gerindra headquarters in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Prior to establishing the Perindo Party, Hary had joined the National Democrat Party (NasDem) and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura)—both members of President Joko Widodo’s coalition.
Hary said he joined KMP as Perindo and KMP shared the same ideology: to stand up for the people. “[KMP's ideology is] the same as Perindo’s, that is to fight for the people,” he said.
Gerindra chief patron Prabowo Subianto in his speech said he was proud of Perindo’s joining the KMP. “Congratulations, now we are allies, I hope we will remain united,” Gerindra’s chief of advisory council said. “Although in regional elections we will have some little competitions,” he added.
Also attending the event were a number of Golkar Party officials, including Aburizal Bakrie, Idrus Marham, Setya Novanto, Ade Komarudin and Akbar Tandjung.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) president Anis Matta and PKS politicians Hilmi Aminuddin, Hidayat Nurwahid, Fahri Hamzah were also among those in attendance. From the National Mandate Party (PAN), honorary council chair Amien Rais and his son Hanafi Rais were present. PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan was absent from the event.
The event was also attended by the deputy chair of DPP Democrat, Agus Hermanto, who is also a House deputy speaker; the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) of the Jakarta congress version, Djan Faridz; and the chief of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), M.S. Kaban.
PUTRI ADITYOWATI
