The Power Of Eddy Sud Builds The Golkar Party Campaign Machine, Aneka Ria Safari

Kwartet Jaya's comedy groups: Eddy Sudihardjo (Eddy Sud), Bing Slamet, Kho Tjeng Lie (Ateng), and Iskak Darmo Suwiryo (Iskak). (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA - The name Eddy Sud cannot be separated from the sparkling Indonesian entertainment stage. He is like a complete package of true entertainers. From comedians to actors. His face is often present on the small screen. Even his voice echoed everywhere via radio.

His career increased when he began to initiate the artist Safari Golkar, then became a state-owned television station program, TVRI named Aneka Ria Safari. The idea not only raised the name of an Indonesian artist, but also became a campaign engine, the New Order government (Orba) and the Golkar Party (Golkar).

Eddy Sudihardjo or known as Eddy Sud is the legendary Indonesian entertainer. He was able to start a career in the entertainment world from a young age. This activity became even more intense when Eddy Sud joined artists under the auspices of Kodam Jaya V in the 1960-1961 era.

Every day he was involved to entertain the Indonesian people throughout the country. Mainly, when the Indonesian military was in a conflict area. This step is considered a tactic to bring the Indonesian people closer to the Indonesian people and the TNI.

The results were brilliant. The popularity of the TNI as a protector of the people skyrocketed. Even Eddy Sud's popularity on the entertainment stage also increased. Various offers collided roles to come to him. He became often supported for gigs and playing movies.

This existence is increasingly being recorded because Eddy Sud has started joining the legendary comedy group S.A.E. The group is not an ordinary comedy group. Because, Eddy Sud conspired with big names such as Bing Slamet and Atmonadi in the 1960s.

The move led him to the ladder of success. Even though SAE did not last long. Bing Slamet and Eddy Sud also began to perpetuate a new comedy group in 1967. Kwartet Jaya, his name. The group was strengthened by Bing Slamet, Eddy Sud, Ateng, and Iskak.

This big name is the assurance of the quality of Kwartet Jaya's famous members throughout the country. Members of Kwartet Jaya often share roles in one film.Bing Slamet Dukun Fake (1973), for example. That role made fans hoard.

Evidence of the existence of Kwartet Jaya can be seen when they performed in the 1970s. The audience made them laugh trivially. Whoever invites Kwartet Jaya, the inviteer will not be disappointed. Even the audience can be entertained and manage to forget all kinds of life.

Lawakan appeared as a filling for the next event. From behind the stage, Eddy Sud, the 'pancing' driver appeared in his group. Kwartet Jaya that night managed to lure his two partners, Ateng and Iskak to joke (even without the presence of Bing Slamet). His fresh banyan plus his blaststick movement made the audience laugh at the silence.

Ateng, a short comedian and a stand with sharp satire shown to Iskak was able to make the audience turn around. That night, the Kwartet Jaya Group managed to shake the stomach of the audience who was present to fill the field in the employee housing complex. Many attendees were forced to relax their belts, explained Andy Achmad Sampurna Jaya, who had witnessed the performance of Kwartet Jaya as written by Zulfikar Fu'ad in the book Simphoni Hidup Seorang Bupati (2004).

The popularity of Eddy Sud made the government attracted. The ruling party, Golkar, let alone. Eddy Sud was also given the widest creative space in the 1970s. This closeness paid off. As a reciprocity, Eddy Sud, Bing Slamet, and Bucuk Suharto founded the group of Safari Golkar Artists (later known as Anera Ria Safari) in 1971.

Eddy Sud became the driving force that gathered the capital city artists around the campaign to win Golkar in the 1971 elections and other political contestations. Eddy Sud and his influence boomed.

He was able to gather hundreds of well-known artists in the capital city. From comedians to singers. They were involved by Eddy Sud to campaign for the Golkar ideology to all corners of the archipelago. The owner of the power even rented a special plane that brought the artist on a safari to remote parts of the country.

The concoction was able to make Golkar a champion in the 1971 elections and other election contestations. Artists who get many benefits. Like a symbiosis of mutualism. Instead of just showing money, they are given a wider creative space. While New Order can last in power.

Golkar Safari Artist Performance Permits are made easier. They often get gig calls from the government. This passion made Safari Golkar Artists increase. The government also does not want to cut off the relationship between Safari Golkar artists after the election.

The Golkar Safari Artist's close relationship was maintained by the New Order government by providing the Aneka Ria Safari event in the 1980s. The initiation was again launched by Eddy Sud. The program, which has always been subscribed to TVRI's only television, continues to be popular. Therefore, Aneka Ria Safari and all its artists - are often associated as campaign machines for the New Order government and Golkar.

Eddy Sud is the pioneer of the TVRI commercial event. The idea was born 10 years ago when Eddy met Ali Moertopo (later became Minister of Information). Basically, concern about the fate of Indonesian music that is losing continues to compete with Western songs. Then came the event of Aneka Ria Safari. Priority given to the group of Safari Golkar Artists.

But the continuation does become very different. It is not clear which member is a member of Safari's artist, which is a business partner. The Safari Artist Organization was formed by Eddy Sud in 1971 with Bing Slamet, Bucuk Suharto (Head of the Golkar DPP Department of Arts and Culture). The goal was to gather artists who wanted to be invited around the region to campaign. This group is said to have played a big role in Golkar's victory, "explained Sry Pudyastuti and Dwi S. Irianto in his writing in Tempo Magazine entitled MDdut, Business and Politics (1993).