Indonesia’s military chief, who suspended military co-operation with Australia a year ago and accused Canberra of trying to “recruit” his officers, looks set to launch his political career within months, with a possible tilt at a provincial governorship — a tested platform to the presidency. Previously, in September, the Great Indonesia Raya Movement (Gerindra) Party revealed that it was considering endorsing Nurmantyo as a running mate for Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential election. During his tenure as Indonesian army chief, Nurmantyo revived the issue of pribumi (indigenous) identity and social inequality in Indonesian society. His political speeches give implicit encouragement to radical Islam and growing inter-ethnic intolerance in Indonesia, writes Leo Suryadinata in a research paper published by ISEAS.