20100205 Guruh Soekarnoputra: The arts and politics are my tools, by Prodita Sabarini

Guruh Soekarnoputra, the youngest son of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, recently announced he was running for chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), a position held by his big sister former president Megawati Soekarnoputri for 17 years.

As soon as his announcement was made, political analysts and senior PDI-P functionaries commented that they doubted whether his influence would match that of Megawati's and whether he was serious in challenging the status quo in the party.

Guruh's response to the doubters: "I am committed to serve the people of Indonesia.

"My life is about service. As a warrior, I dedicate myself to service," he said in a visit to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Under the shadow of Megawati's popularity, Guruh, who is a member of the House of Representatives, has always been more renowned for his art than his politics.

Guruh first founded the art group Gencar Semarak Perkasa (GSP) production and produced stage performances and then the Swara Mahardhika. In the 1980s, he founded the music groups Guruh Gypsy and Gank Pegangsaan.

In terms of being serious about politics, close friend and Guruh's aide Aji Barata said that Guruh was a long time player.

"Guruh is very serious about his politics. In 1991, Guruh was ready to be president," he said. "People think Mas Guruh is merely an artist entering the political arena. But, he's more than that," he said.

For Guruh, the arts and his involvement in politics were his tools for his struggle to bring change.

He said the grass roots at the PDI-P requested him to bring about change in the party. He made his declaration on his candidacy on Jan. 16 at a gathering in his residence on Jl. Sriwijaya, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, attended by hundreds of sympathizers.

He said in the PDI-P people did not nominate themselves to run for leader of the party. Instead, the constituents were the ones who nominated their candidate.

Guruh said, as a party member, he did not need a blessing from the chairman. However, as the youngest child, he had an obligation to ask for a blessing from his elders in the family. "I told my sister that a lot of people had requested I run for PDI-P chairman and I asked for her blessing," he said.

According to Guruh, Megawati was fine about his intentions. However, she reminded him that the party was not theirs; therefore he had to go and talk to his constituents.

Guruh said he thought personally that Megawati was tired of politics. "However, Mega is a warrior. If people ask her to serve, she will never refuse," he said.

Guruh said he was concerned about how there were multidimensional crises happening in the country. "There's a crisis in morals, a crisis in leadership, a crisis in politics, and a crisis in culture," he said.

For him, as with any political party, the PDI-P has its flaws. "All the parties are not in good shape. Including the PDI-P," he said. He said the PDI-P need internal change to be able to compete in the national political arena.

"What I will do is create a revolution, which is actually not such a loaded word. Revolution means a rapid change," he said.

Commenting on the PDI-P and his sister's leadership, he said: "I feel sorry for my sister".

In 1999, the PDI-P was the winner of the first election after Soeharto stepped down. "But that didn't make her president," he said. Only after former president Abdurrahman Wahid was impeached did the presidential position become available for Megawati.

He said the party was losing in the political rankings.

Guruh, in a philosophical tone, said he aimed to be a shepherd in life. He said in every religion in the world, humans are shepherds. "What's a shepherd? A shepherd is a leader. And leaders are teachers," he said.

"Every human child should prepare themselves to be a teacher, a leader, a shepherd for the generation after them," he said.

He said his task was to convey good news and show the right path. "The correct path is Pancasila," he said, referring to Indonesia's national principles.

If he succeeded in becoming chairman of the party and was nominated as president in 2014, there was a chance that Guruh would be the first single candidate in office.

Guruh married Gusyenova Sabina Padmavati from Uzbekistan in 2002, but the couple has separated.

Guruh pointed out there was no prohibition on a presidential candidate being single. He said being single could be a good thing. "If we think positively, as a single person one can concentrate and focus more on the people's problems," he said.

However, he said he did have a possible companion candidate. "From observation, looking around and investigating things. There is *someone*. However, we have yet to reach a verdict on whether the person will be my companion. There needs to be a fit-and-proper test first," he said jokingly.

Apart from his political activity, the 57-year-old is producing a new rock album titled The Tragedy of Democracy (Tragedi Demokrasi). Guruh said the band, called Kaca Benggala, was a five-member group.

Despite being a music-producing politician, just like president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), he refused to be compared to the latter. "I'm not like SBY. I've been releasing albums since 1976," he said, smiling.