JAKARTA (JP): Former state minister of administrative reform Ryaas Rasyid and political analyst and TV talk show host Andi Mallarangeng officially launched the Nation Democratic Unity Party (PPDK) on Sunday.

The ceremony at Hotel Indonesia, Central Jakarta, was attended by several artists and government officials, including Minister for Security and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Antara said.

Ryaas is also running for gubernatorial post, while Andi Mallarangeng has recently withdrawn his membership from several institutions, saying that he would concentrate more on his activities with the newly established party.

Ryaas said the party would give serious attention to decentralization and regional autonomy issues.

Both Ryaas and Andi helped draft the regional autonomy laws that were enacted in 2000.