Dangdut King Rhoma to Serenade Voters With New Idaman Party
Jakarta. Dangdut legend Rhoma Irama officially launched his own party on Wednesday and decided to play some tunes to explain his supporters what his new political vehicle stands for.
Named the Peaceful and Safe Islamic Party or Idaman ('dream' in Indonesian), Rhoma, who was dubbed the country's King of Dangdut, said the party stands for Islamic virtues, corruption eradication, national unity and Pancasila ̶ the very same principles he has been advocating in many of his songs.
“I will explain [the party's] mission statements through songs, proving that I have been committed to these issues for decades. Such methods are more effective than oration. Idaman will be different from others,” he said before strumming his iconic headless guitar to the cheers of fans attending the launch, held at the Proclamation Monument in Central Jakarta.
Rhoma, who named himself chairman of the new party, said Idaman will advocate a more peaceful side of Islam and will work to combat terrorism and religious intolerance.
Party members “must uphold Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and support a tolerant Islam, regardless of others' views... or denominations,” he told his supporters as he introduced his line of party officials.
But this view is a far cry from one of his sermons made in the run up to the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election, during which Rhoma urged his followers not to vote for then-candidate Joko Widodo because he is pairing with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and an ethnic Chinese.
Joko won the election and became president a mere two years later, leaving Basuki to lead the capital.
Rhoma, who has switched parties three times before establishing his own political vehicle, left the National Awakening Party (PKB) last year after it backtracked on its promise to support Rhoma's presidential ambition and joined Joko's coalition.
Attending Wednesday's declaration were members of the United Development Party (PPP), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Democratic Party.
“More parties means more options for the people of Indonesia,” Hanura's Jakarta chapter chairman Ongen Sangaji told reporters. “The presence of a new party will only encourage us to work even harder.”
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