Indonesian Idol Judge Anang Hermansyah Gains Enough Votes for Parliament

Jember, E Java (Antara) - Musician Anang Hermansyah from the National Mandate Party (PAN) has won enough votes in the 2014 legislative election to qualify him as a legislative member in the House of Representatives (DPR-RI). Secretary of the Jember Regional Representative Council (DPD) of PAN Edy Wicaksono said on Monday that after the recapitulation, Anang won by 37,439 votes in Jember District, ensuring the party gained one seat in parliament. "The significant number of votes is because Anang is a musician by profession, and Jember is his hometown," Wicaksono said. Several campaigns conducted by the PAN's legislative member candidate in Jember proved fruitful to the party's vote bank, which is higher than those gained in the 2009 election, Wicaksono said. Anang, who was also one of the judges in the Indonesian Idol singing contest, ran for the legislative membership from the electorate district (dapil) IV East Java, which covers Jember and Lumajang Districts. In Jember, Anang received the majority of the votes from three subdistricts: Kaliwates (4,357), Sumbersari (3,077), and Patrang (2,139). Anang was summoned by the Jember Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) after an alleged violation of electoral conduct because he visited Jember 2 High School (SMAN) during school hours as part of his election campaign on February 11. Meanwhile, a supporter of Anang in Jember, Efendi, conveyed his compliments to the candidate. "Hopefully, mas Anang will be a legislator who carries the people's mandate and aspirations despite being an artist busy with entertainment stuff," Efendi noted. (*) Report by Zumrotun Solichah