Michael Thungari | |
|---|---|
2024 ballot photo | |
| Regent of Sangihe Islands | |
| Assumed office 20 February 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jabes Ezar Gaghana Albert H. Wounde (act.) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 February 1989 Manado,North Sulawesi,Indonesia |
| Political party | NasDem Party |
Michael Thungari (born 15 February 1989) is an Indonesian politician of the NasDem Party and businessman who is the regent of Sangihe Islands Regency,North Sulawesi,since February 2025. He was previously a member of the regency's local legislature,and was engaged in logistics business related to Sangihe.
Michael Thungari was born on 16 February 1989 in Manado. [1] His father is Seunal Thungari. [2] After completing high school in Manado,Thungari moved to Surabaya for further studies,obtaining his bachelor's degree from the Petra Christian University in 2010 and later a master's in management from Airlangga University in 2012. [1] [3]
After graduating from Airlangga,Thungari began to run PT Pancaran Berkat Mulia,a logistics and construction company which operates cargo ships between Makassar and Tahuna,capital of the Sangihe Islands Regency. [3] [4] The company heavily utilized the Sea Toll Program,which according to Thungari subsidized around half of the shipping cost to Tahuna. [5]
In 2019,Thungari ran for a seat in Sangihe Islands' Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Sangihe) as a NasDem Party member,securing a seat after winning 2,985 votes,the most of the 25 elected members. He became the deputy speaker in the DPRD. He was reelected in 2024,again winning the most votes (3,012). [1]
Thungari ran for regent of Sangihe Islands in its 2024 regency election,with Golkar DPRD member Tendris Bulahari as running mate. They were backed by Nasdem,PKB,and Hanura. [6] The pair secured 38,385 votes (46.6%) in the four-way race and won the election. [7] Thungari and Bulahari were sworn in on 20 February 2025. [8]
As regent,Thungari initiated a car free day program at Tahuna's town center,accompanied by public sports events and free medical checkups on weekends. [9]
Thungari is married to Cherry Shandyca Soeyoenus. [10] He also chaired the Football Association of Indonesia's Sangihe Islands branch. [11]