Songwriter Anang Hermansyah and his new wife, singer Ashanti, are among several celebrities who are expected to join the National Awakening Party (PAN) ahead of the 2014 election, a lawmaker says.

“Anang and Ashanty have signaled that they are eager to join. I hope that several other celebrities will also follow suit,” comedian-turned-legislator Eko Hendro Purnomo, also known as Eko Patrio, said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Other celebrities said to be interested in joining the party include presenter Raffi Ahmad, actor Hengky Kurniawan and Lucky Hakim.

PAN had not approached the celebrities, Eko said. “They were the ones who asked to join.”

Eko himself continues to appear on television while holding a seat on House Commission X overseeing education, culture and sports.

The leader of PAN in the House, lawmaker Tjatur Sapto Edy, confirmed that the celebrities would soon join the party.

“Artists are also human. They have the right to become lawmakers,” Tjatur said.

The Jakarta Post

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