Carlos Paath – The People's Conscience Party (Hanura) named media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo as its new chief patron on Sunday, following his recent resignation from the National Democratic Party in the wake of a leadership rift.
At an event marking the occasion, Hanura secretary-general Yossi Iskandar Prasetyo said Hary's appointment as chief patron was specified in a party decree following a party leaders' meeting on Friday.
"The decree ... specifies Hary Tanoesoedibjo's appointment as Hanura's chief patron [until 2015]," Yossi said on the sidelines of the event at Hanura's headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
Hary, meanwhile, said on Sunday that he had decided to join Hanura because he shared the "same vision" with party founder and chairman Wiranto concerning the nation's need for changes. He said he also respected Wiranto, whom he described as a cool-headed figure open to discussion.
Hary further said Hanura was a clean party that was ready to accommodate former members of the National Democratic Party (NasDem) who left it along with him. "For Hanura, I'm ready to go all out," Hary told the audience.
Hary, who owns the Media Nusantara Citra Group, announced his resignation from the National Democratic Party (NasDem) on Jan. 21 in light of a decision to name NasDem founder Surya Paloh as the party's chairman.
Surya is a fellow media tycoon who owns Metro TV and Media Indonesia newspaper. In splitting with NasDem, Hary said he preferred that the party be led by young people.
Hary announced earlier this month that he would launch his own mass organization, United Indonesia (Perindo), on Feb. 24, which would be empowered by young people.
Hanura and NasDem are among 10 political parties that the General Elections Commission (KPU) has declared eligible to contest in the 2014 legislative elections. NasDem was established in 2011, while Hanura was founded in 2006 by the former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Wiranto.
Earlier on Sunday, Hanura deputy secretary-general Saleh Husin called Hary's appointment a "special and historic moment that will prompt this party to run at high speed." "Pak Hary is strongly determined to bring about changes to advance this country using conscience," he added. (Suara Pembaruan, JG)