T

hough Deputy Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama is poised to assume the office of Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, who will take a leave of absence to run for president, he will not have all the powers of the position.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Jokowi and Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi on Wednesday, Ahok said that his job description would change little when he became interim governor as big decisions would require external approval.

'€œIf I want to transfer officials, I have to get the Home Minister to sign off first,'€ he said.

As interim governor, Ahok will also not be able to cancel policies or agreements that had been approved by the governor.

Previously, Ahok had said as acting governor he would move to dismiss some underperforming agency heads.

'€œThe governor had intended to do so but he has not had the chance to execute the plan. I think I can do it,'€ Ahok said at the time.

He also suggested that Jokowi fire the officials before taking his leave of office.

According to Home Ministry spokesperson Didik Suprayitno, Jokowi, presidential candidate for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), would officially begin his leave of absence on June 1 after the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced the confirmed presidential tickets for the July 9 election.

Previously, Didik said the governor'€™s leave would be effective starting May 18, when political parties register their presidential candidates with the KPU.

Jokowi'€™s period of leave will end on Aug. 22, should the presidential election end in one round, or on
Oct. 14 in the case of a runoff.

'€œBarring any legal disputes after the election, I should only be the acting governor for two months. So, I won'€™t have to bear all the duties alone for too long,'€ Ahok said.

Ahok added that he would postpone several ongoing projects in the capital, such as the monorail, until Jokowi returned to office.

To date, the city administration has yet to sign a cooperation agreement with private consortium PT Jakarta Monorail, the subcontractor awarded the monorail project.

Ahok also said that he would not move in to the governor'€™s official residence at Jl. Taman Surapati 7, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

While on leave, Jokowi will not be able to enjoy certain perks of the office, such as the governor'€™s residence, car and health care. Jokowi will also not receive the gubernatorial expense allowance, though he will still earn his base salary.

Jokowi has yet to say where he will temporarily reside in the capital after vacating the Menteng residence.

According to Ministerial Regulation No. 13/2009 on leave for regional leaders, an acting governor is entitled to use gubernatorial operational funds to conduct coordination meetings on security and public matters and to hold other special activities.

'€œHowever, he has to use the funds in accordance with the ethics of frugality and fairness,'€ Didik said.

According to Government Regulation No. 109/2000, the governor and deputy governor leading a province with regional income of more than Rp 500 billion (US$43.68 million) are entitled to earn at least Rp 1.25 billion, or 0.15 percent of regional income, in annual operational allowances.