He said he had learned from the experience of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who did not step down in his 10 years of leading the country, although he faced various demonstrations against his leadership during his tenure.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, made his statement in response to questions from reporters about the plan of the hardline Islam Defenders Front (FPI) to hold a demonstration at City Hall on Wednesday to reject his appointment as the successor of Jokowi, a Muslim of Javanese descent.

Ahok, the former regent of East Belitung, said that he felt relaxed and would not make any specific preparations in advance of the FPI'€™s demonstration.

'€œWhat kind of preparation should I make? I just want to focus on finishing my job as usual,'€ he said, as quoted by kompas.com.

He also said that he would not meet FPI representatives for discussions on Wednesday because such discussions would be useless.

Ahok said that since he became regent of East Belitung, he had become accustomed to facing rejection based on his ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup relations (SARA), like what the FPI had said.

The FPI previously urged the Home Affairs Ministry and the Jakarta City Council not to name Ahok governor, while at the same time calling on the council to choose another person for the job, or allow for a public referendum.

FPI head Habib Alattas claimed some 2,000 people would take part in the demonstration, both from the FPI and several other organizations. Leaders of the rally also planned to file a request to talk to city councilors, or with Ahok himself. (alz)

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