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residentialcandidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has spent a large part of his tour toseveral places in West Java on clarifying media reports on the Internet,especially those published by obscure tabloid Obor Rakyat.

InPurwakarta, West Java, for example, he made clarifications regarding hisparents.

"Iwas accused of being the son of a Singaporean. Do you believe that? How can Ibe a son of a Singaporean with this ndeso [hillbilly] face?" Jokowi saidto the laughter of the audience.

"Myfather is from Karang Anyar and my mother is from Boyolali [both are in CentralJava]. When I was four, I saw with my own eyes as our house, which was on ariverside, was demolished by the authorities," Jokowi said.

Hedenied he would stop the teacher performance allowance if elected, as suggestedby the tabloid.

"Iwill never do that. Instead, I am thinking about increasing benefits forteachers," he said.

On thesidelines of his campaign activities, Jokowi admitted he was bothered by the reports.

"Theimpact is significant. Maybe upper-middle class people can filter out what istrue and false, but those in the lower class can easily buy it. That's why Ihave repeatedly clarified the issue," he told reporters.

A notedacademic who now also serves as Jokowi's spokesman, Anies Baswedan, gaveassurances that Jokowi would never set aside teachers in his policies.

"Jokowitruly understands that teachers are the key to improving our education system,which would be part of Jokowi's priorities as president," he said in astatement.

The visitto Purwakarta was part of Jokowi's six-day tour to West and Central Java, whichhad been underway since Monday. Previously he visited Cikarang and Karawang.

Later on Tuesday, Jokowi proceeded to Subang and Pamanukan, andplanned to end his schedule in Indramayu.