Jakarta. Rusdi Kirana, the founder of budget airline Lion Air, announced on Thursday that he has officially retired from his business ventures to fully dedicate himself to his new role as deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Speaking after the inauguration of the new MPR leadership at the legislature building in Jakarta, Rusdi revealed that he has passed the management of his businesses to his children.

"Today, I am 61 years old and have entrusted the business to the second generation. I need to focus entirely on my duties here [in the legislature] because it’s impossible to run the aviation business while serving in parliament," Rusdi explained.

With a reported personal wealth of Rp 2.6 trillion ($168 million), based on his mandatory financial disclosure as a public official, Rusdi is the wealthiest member of the national legislature.

Rusdi, a lawmaker representing the National Awakening Party (PKB), said that as a senior lawmaker, his priority will be defending pluralism and upholding the national ideology, Pancasila.

He also emphasized his commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia, drawing from his experience as an entrepreneur.

"My business started as a small enterprise. Our SMEs need protection amid increasing global competition,” Rusdi noted.