Hary Tanoesoedibjo no threat, says PDI-P

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has welcomed the entry of one of Indonesia's top media moguls, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, to the world of politics after he recently joined the newly established Nasdem party.

PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo said his party did not regard Hary's move as a threat.

“I think it is good when a young leader joins politics,” he said Thursday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

However, Tjahjo added that his party would not ask media figures to join the PDI-P because the party was working to build and educate a free and neutral press.

Hary is the president and CEO of Media Nusantara Citra

(MNC) Group, which controls national television channels including RCTI, Global TV and MNC TV, as well as print media outlets including Seputar Indonesia daily and High End magazine.

Hary's Nasdem membership adds to a long list of media

entrepreneurs who have taken up careers in the political arena.

The Nasdem party was co-founded by former Golkar Party member Surya Paloh, the owner of Media Group, which runs Metro TV and Media Indonesia daily.

Surya resigned from Golkar following a rift with the

party's chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, who owns the news station TV One, ANTV, vivanews.com and the Surabaya Post daily.