Tommy steps down from IMI

JAKARTA (JP): Hutomo Mandala Putra sprang a surprise on Friday night when he refused his second term as chairman of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) and handed the post to Bob RE Nasution at the end of the IMI congress in Medan, North Sumatra.

Hutomo, known as Tommy Soeharto, was expected to lead the national automotive sports governing body for a second four-year term.

Chairman of the congress, Suwandi, told reporters that Hutomo, President Soeharto's youngest son, would be very busy in the upcoming four years. "But he is willing to come back to power in the next period," Suwandi was quoted by Antara as saying. (amd)