0 ‘I will still be the king’, Rhoma says

Rhoma Irama is backing away from his aspirations to run for president in 2014, with the self-styled “king of dangdut” music striking a conciliatory note with his former rivals. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with leaders of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Tuesday, Rhoma claimed that he never wanted to run for the presidency, saying that he was approached by several political parties regarding the possibility of running for high office. 

Rhoma said two parties that had promised to back his candidacy were the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) . “I don’t want to run in the presidential election. They wanted me, and I just tried to let it flow,” Rhoma said. As for the future of his candidacy, Rhoma said that he was expecting to sign a formal deal with some parties. “I only have a gentleman’s agreement with Cak Imin so far. Therefore, everything may change as time goes by,” Rhoma said, referring to PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar. 

In early December, Muhaimin was reported to have been in talks with Rhoma about his possible nomination by the party. Rhoma also said that if no political parties were willing to nominate him, he would not hold a grudge. “No matter what, I will still be the king with or without the presidency,” he said. However, it appears that the PKB will no longer respond to Rhoma’s proposal, as some within the party already have an alternative candidate in mind. An executive of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said late last week that the party may give its support to First Lady Ani Yudhoyono as its presidential candidate in the 2014 election. 

PKB deputy secretary-general said that the First Lady was one of the most preferred candidates within the party’s inner circle. The possibility of having the First Lady on the ticket also added to the quirkiness of Rhoma’s political ambitions, with some talking of a Ani-Rhoma ticket for 2014. Fans of the popular dangdut singer will surely get the joke, as Ani was one of Rhoma’s love interests in the movies he made in the late 1970s. Rhoma also had a popular hit named after the character. When asked by reporters about the possible match up with the First Lady, Rhoma responded through song. 

“Ani, Ani, sungguh aku tahu kau cinta padaku” (Ani, Ani, I know that you really love me), Rhoma sang, quoting a line from one of his hit songs. Rhoma also attempted to build a bridge between him and Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, lauding Jokowi for his achievements as the world’s “third-best” mayor. “We hope that Jokowi can better develop Jakarta. I fully support him,” Rhoma said. In August, Rhoma faced questioning on allegations that he made slurs against the religious beliefs of then vice gubernatorial candidate Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama at a Jakarta mosque. 

Rhoma delivered a derogatory and politically charged sermon on a Sunday evening before tarawih prayers at Al Isra Mosque in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, while Jokowi’s rival Fauzi Bowo was in attendance. The MPR met with Rhoma on Tuesday to enlist him as a spokesman in a campaign to promote democracy and the electoral process in the country. MPR Deputy Speaker Hajriyanto Tohari said that Rhoma’s participation in the campaign could positively effect on his political future. “I believe that Rhoma will make us more popular. On the other hand, his participation in the program will an bring advantage to him politically,” Hajriyanto said.

source : the jakarta post