Abdee Negara:
Jokowi must do the right thing

ABDEE Negara, 46, from the rock group Slank, turns out to be more than just a good guitarist. It seems he has a talent for mobilizing masses. Together with a number of his associates just days before the July 9 presidential election, he organized the 'Two-Finger Salute for Victory' concert at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. "People were worried Jokowi could lose the election," said Abdee, offering his reason for hosting the event that is now being attributed as the reason for Joko Widodo's surge of popularity and his eventual victory.

How did you end up being a volunteer involved in political movements?

Musicians are volunteers by nature and they have the capacity to really see what is going on in their environment. Perhaps it's our trained sensitivity. I noticed that people were complaining but very little was being done. From that point I decided to volunteer.

Was that how the 'Two-Finger Salute' concert came about?

December 16, 2014