Music award for Moerdiono

State Secretary Moerdiono is known as more than just President Suharto’s spokesman.

The 62-year-old retired general also has a flair for singing and dancing, receiving last week a special honour for dangdut,

Indonesia’s most popular form of folk music.

“Dangdut is said to be the music of the lower class, but it is anything but cheap. I am moved and proud to receive this award,” he said after being bestowed the Dangdut Personality of 1997 by private television network TPI. Dangdut is derived from Indian music and blended with traditional and modern pop music.