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EDITORIAL: Vote for our dignity
Don’t let the bullies, including those on social media and those outside Jakarta, affect the way Jakartans vote.
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incumbent gubernatorial candidate Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Gubernatorian Candidate Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno participate during an election debate at the Bidakara Hotel in Jakarta, April 12,2017. The debate was the last official debate Held by DKI Jakarta Election Commision (KPUD DKI) ahead of the runoff in the capital’s gubernatorial election. (JP/Seto Wardhana.)
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akarta voters have three days of reprieve after the hectic and noisy gubernatorial election campaign before they cast their ballots on Wednesday. The cooling-off period should give them enough time to pause, reflect and consider all the important aspects in making up their minds about which of the two pairs of candidates are worthy of their vote: is it the incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat or the challenger Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno?
The election campaigns, both for the first round and Wednesday’s runoff, have been the dirtiest, most polarizing and most divisive the nation has ever seen, even far worse than that for the 2014 presidential election, which we all thought was already the pits.
One troubling aspect of this election is the use of religion, and to a lesser extent, race, in campaign rhetoric, not necessarily by the candidates but more by their supporters, often with the aid of social media. These two issues have virtually clouded all the other more important issues that the candidates should be talking about. Fortunately, official televised debates gave candidates a forum to reach out to voters with their visions and programs for the city.
It is good to see that the rest of the nation is paying attention to the Jakarta election. The capital is indeed the barometer of Indonesia’s political pulse more so than any other region. What transpires here this week will have some bearing on the next national elections in 2019.
But on Wednesday, Jakarta voters will have to ignore all the pressure brought to bear on them, including by those who tried to raise sectarian issues, and decide for themselves what is good for them as residents of Jakarta. Here are four tips on voting the right way.
Vote for governance. After all, this is first and foremost about electing a governor who will serve our interests. Both pairs of candidates entered the election with some advantages and disadvantages on the question of governance. Voters know which of the two would serve them best.
Vote for our diversity. Voters should send the clearest signal that they reject the sectarian messages throughout the campaigns that have divided and polarized the city. Show that Jakartans are much better than that.
