Indonesian rocker has high hopes for Anwar

The frontman of Indonesian band Dewa 19 has expressed high hopes for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to become an exemplary leader for Indonesia to follow.

Dhani Ahmad Prasetyo, better known as Ahmad Dhani (above), who like Anwar has served jail time, believes that Anwar can bring a big change to Malaysia.

"Anwar has been in jail too. Only (that) I was imprisoned for 11 months, (while) he was imprisoned for 11 years. There are many differences.

"I hope Anwar can be the best prime minister in Malaysia, and through that change, Indonesia can emulate Malaysia," he said.

The rock star said this when met at a press conference for A Night at the Orchestra Chapter 5 Live in Malaysia Concert at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The concert will be conducted by Indonesian music conductor Guntur Nur Puspito who will be leading the 54-piece Ahmad Dhani Malaysian orchestra.

As part of the concert, Dewa 19 will also be collaborating with three local artists - Jaclyn Victor, Shila Amzah and Amir Masdi.

Ahmad Dhani recently uploaded an image of himself holding Anwar's hand while smiling in front of the cameras at the Temu Anwar programme in Jakarta on Sept 5.

The vocalist previously served an 11-month prison sentence in Cipinang, East Jakarta after being found guilty of spreading hateful messages through Twitter.

This followed a series of tweets he posted in March 2017 attacking supporters of the former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, familiarly known as Ahok, who at the time was on trial for blasphemy.

Anwar was imprisoned twice in 1998 and 2015 in Sungai Buloh Prison, Selangor, and had spent nearly two years in Kamunting under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention in the 1970s.

Putrajaya meeting

Meanwhile, concert organiser Iman Tang said Ahmad Dhani and Anwar will meet at the Prime Minister's headquarters in Putrajaya today.

This is to deliver an invitation to the prime minister to attend the concert which will take place tonight.

"The prime minister wants to meet Ahmad Dhani and Ahmad Dhani also wants to meet him. Coincidentally, there is a Maulidur Rasul event tomorrow (today).

"Previously, Anwar and Ahmad Dhani met at a function in Jakarta, so now the prime minister wants to welcome him here as a host," Iman said yesterday.

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