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Tantowi says sayonara to showbiz

JPJAKARTA: Presenter and singer Tantowi Yahya has finally decided to bid farewell to the entertainment world, vowing to dedicate himself to his new political career

The Jakarta Post
Wed, August 12, 2009

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Tantowi says sayonara to showbiz

JP

JAKARTA: Presenter and singer Tantowi Yahya has finally decided to bid farewell to the entertainment world, vowing to dedicate himself to his new political career.

Tantowi, a member of the Golkar Party, is set to join the House of Representatives after winning enough votes in South Sumatra in April’s election. He will sit on Commission I for security and foreign affairs.

“I really want to focus on politics. [Being a politician] has been my dream for so long,” says Tantowi, who has been in showbiz for 20 years. “If I keep my entertainment jobs, what would the people who voted for me say about me?”

According to the 49-year-old country music singer and founder of Country Music Club Indonesia, a career in politics is a major part of his life. Tantowi divides his life into three phases: the first 20 years for studying, then 20 years seeking fame and money, and the last 20 years for political work.

“My political career can’t be separated from my entertainment career,” says the older brother of presenter Helmy Yahya. “It was my successful entertainment career that led me into politics. So I truly thank my fans for this,” he adds.

To thank those fans, Tantowi says he will hold one last concert for them. The concert, called “Celebrating 20 Years of Success”, will be held in Pakuwon City in Surabaya, East Java, on Aug. 14. Surabaya, he says, is where he received the most support during his career.

“Because I want to be close to them like a family, I only invited 500 fans to the concert,” says Tantowi. — JP

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