Jokowi stays calm over Foke’s slurs

Jakarta’s gubernatorial candidate Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that he would keep a cool head in responding to slurs made by incumbent Fauzi “Foke” Bowo.

As previously reported, a widely-circulated Youtube video shows Foke making controversial comments during his visit to fire victims in Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Foke told the victims of the fire: “Now, who will you choose? If [you] choose Jokowi, you better build [homes] in Solo [popular name of Surakarta]”.

Most victims are currently sheltering at Karet Bivak cemetery park.

Jokowi said he would let the election supervisor body address the matter.

“I saw the video last night. [We] have to act wisely. They are suffering hardship. They should’ve been given immediate help,” Jokowi told kompas.com on Thursday.

Contacted separately, Jokowi’s campaign team had no plan to report Foke’s remarks to the Jakarta Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu Jakarta).

“We do not intend [to report it],” said campaign official Budi Karjodihardjo. (yps/iwa)