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Medan, Indonesia – On a blisteringly scorching and thundery day within the metropolis of Medan, followers peeled off their T-shirts and hoisted one another up onto shoulders to get a greater view of one among Indonesia’s most well-known rock bands.
“Don’t neglect to unfold the virus of peace throughout Indonesia” Slank’s frontman and lead vocalist, Akhadi Wira Satriaji, higher referred to as Kaka, screamed to the 1000’s of people that had come right down to Istana Maimun, the palace of the Sultanate of Deli, to rock out with their favorite band.
The group, referred to as “Slankers”, roared their approval and grabbed selfies with their idol, as Kaka crouched close to the sting of the stage, shaking arms and bumping fists with thrilled followers.
However whereas the ambiance was electrical, Slank had not come to Medan on Indonesia’s western island of Sumatra, simply to placed on a very good present.
In Indonesia, there’s a custom of presidential and vice presidential candidates enlisting standard musicians of their campaigns in an try to spice up their electability.
“Political elites and political events have really been utilizing artists to achieve help or votes for a very long time,” stated Hikmawan “Indra” Saefullah, who performed guitar within the Indonesian indie band Alone at Final from 2002 to 2013 and is a lecturer in Indonesian Research on the College of New England.
“Whether or not it’s efficient or not is relatively troublesome to measure except you wish to wait till the election outcomes come out. Even then, it’s troublesome to know for certain whether or not a candidate’s victory was the results of votes from a supporting artist’s followers or not. As a result of voting is secret. So who is aware of?”
The Slank gig was organised along side a go to to town by presidential hopeful and former governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and his working mate Mahfud MD, the previous coordinating minister for politics, authorized and safety affairs.
A pure match
To some supporters, the live performance was the proper mixture of music and politics.
Johnny and Dian, each building employees, advised Al Jazeera that they have been lifelong Slankers and fervent supporters of Ganjar.
“We like their songs as a result of they’re straightforward to hearken to and perceive, and so they enchantment to younger individuals,” 30-year-old Johnny stated. “Slank additionally usually come to Medan to carry out and we additionally go to see them.”
Dian, additionally 30, added that he preferred Slank as a result of they “sing from the guts” and that he would vote for Ganjar and his social gathering, the Indonesian Democratic Get together of Wrestle (PDI-P), as a result of Slank supported them.
For Dian, the band and the candidates are a pure match. He famous Slank was serious about social justice, whereas the PDI-P, a secular-nationalist social gathering, had historically been affiliated with the pursuits and rights of employees throughout Indonesia.
“Ganjar will work for the individuals and can make adjustments for the Indonesian populace. He helps grassroots employees greater than different candidates,” Dian stated.
![Slank fans outside the venue waving a Slank flag. It is white with a red butterfly-like symbol. The fans are posing. Some are wearing black T-shirts and some white.](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240128_132128-1706661166.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C578)
Slank was based in 1983 by a gaggle of then-teenagers in Jakarta and takes its title from the time period “slange’an” which suggests “free males” in Betawi, the language of the Betawi ethnic group within the capital.
Slank has additionally lengthy been identified for the political nature of a lot of its songs and lent its help to present Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly referred to as Jokowi, when he ran for the presidency in 2014 and 2019 on a PDI-P ticket.
Now that Ganjar is the PDI-P presidential candidate (Jokowi has served the utmost two phrases in workplace), Slank can be backing him forward of the presidential election on February 14.
“They wish to construct a notion among the many public that they are going to be left behind or ‘not cool’ in the event that they don’t help the PDI-P and Ganjar [by saying], ‘See, Slank help him, why wouldn’t everybody else?’” lecturer Saefullah stated of the alliance.
Additionally within the crowd on the live performance have been market-sellers 34-year-old Ratna and 28-year-old Lisa who stated that they’d come to the occasion to help Ganjar who they praised for being “an mental candidate”.
Amongst his election guarantees, Ganjar has stated will enhance Indonesians’ work life, together with elevating salaries, paying off farmers’ money owed and eliminating the corruption and nepotism which have lengthy plagued the job market in Indonesia.
![Slank fans waving flags with the band’s logos on them. The fans are mostly wearing black.](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240128_111318-1706661295.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C578)
He has additionally pledged to distribute social help extra evenly and broadly throughout the archipelago of 278 million individuals.
“The price of dwelling is rising in Indonesia and necessities have gotten costlier,” Ratna stated. “Rice and cooking oil are costlier now whereas salaries are nonetheless low. We would like salaries to be cheap, which is why we help Ganjar.”
No ensures
Nevertheless, not everybody within the crowd was satisfied.
Mulia, a 20-year-old communications scholar on the State Islamic College of North Sumatra, advised Al Jazeera that he had come to the live performance to see Slank however that he had but to resolve who to vote for.
“Possibly I’ll select Ganjar. It looks as if he’s near younger individuals and he would possibly do extra for the youth of Indonesia if he’s elected,” he stated.
“It relies upon how I really feel once I see him. If I like him, then I’ll vote for him.”
Ganjar, himself, made solely a quick look on the live performance.
![Ganjar Pranowo waving to supporters. He is wearing a white shirt.](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AP24028531052136-1706661942.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
Given a standard Sumatran welcome dance, he made his approach by way of the gang, a flower garland round his neck, greeting supporters who screamed and grasped his arms whereas taking selfies on their telephones.
However, whereas Ganjar stood alongside Kaka and clapped enthusiastically to the music, he didn’t tackle the gang and shortly left for an additional occasion with working mate Mahfud.
Different candidates are additionally hoping the ability of superstar interprets into votes.
Former Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and working mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who can be Jokowi’s oldest son and the present mayor of town of Surakarta or Solo, have been endorsed by Indonesian rock band Dewa 19.
In the meantime, Rhoma Irama, the so-called “King of Dangdut”, a type of Indonesian folks music, has thrown his help behind the previous Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan and the deputy speaker of the Folks’s Consultant Council, Muhaimin Iskandar.
![University student Mulia with a friend. He is wearing a whit T-shirt and brown checked shorts. They are posing and sticking out their tongues](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240128_114527-1706661201.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C578)
‘Slank U’
Again at Istana Maimun, 19-year-old Lufti and his 5 buddies have been waving a flag bearing Slank’s brand, and stated that they have been a mixture of Prabowo and Anies voters and had no intentions of voting for Ganjar.
“We’re hardcore Slankers as a result of their songs are superb and so enjoyable to hearken to,” Lufti stated.
“I received’t vote for Ganjar as a result of Prabowo is my idol,” he added. “I’ll all the time select Prabowo as a result of he has vowed to maintain the nation protected and guard our nationwide pursuits.”
Tio, sporting a Slank-themed T-shirt embossed with the phrases “Slank U”, was on the live performance together with his spouse Cindy.
They stated they have been there “to see Slank first and Ganjar second”.
“I like Slank as a result of they’re such inventive musicians and so they preach a message of peace,” the 20-year-old entrepreneur advised Al Jazeera.
“They make their songs for the individuals and so they all the time supported Jokowi when he was working for workplace,” Tio stated of his favorite band.
![Husband and wife Cindy and Tio at the Slank concert. He is wearing a black Slank T-shirt. She is dressed in red and white.](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240128_115257-1706661184.jpg?resize=770%2C578)
However Tio’s help additionally highlights the potential danger politicians face after they search endorsements from rock bands.
“I’ll vote for Ganjar now due to Slank’s endorsement,” Tio stated. “But when they determined to help one other candidate like Prabowo, then I might observe Slank and help Prabowo too.”
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