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Ahok returns to work as budget dispute awaits

After three days of absence caused by dengue fever, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama returned to work in his office in City Hall on Thursday

Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post)

Jakarta

Thu, March 12, 2015 Published on Mar. 12, 2015 Published on 2015-03-12T10:27:28+07:00

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fter three days of absence caused by dengue fever, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama returned to work in his office in City Hall on Thursday.

The governor tested positive for dengue fever on Monday after being bitten by a mosquito in his private residence in Pluit, North Jakarta.

"The doctor said my platelets and white blood cells are back to normal so I decided to start working again," said Ahok, who was all smiles when he arrived at City Hall at 8:15 a.m.

Ahok is scheduled to lead a land acquisition team (TPUT) meeting with other city officials. He said that he would also begin to focus on discussing the 2015 budget with his subordinates and the City Council.

"The Home Ministry completed evaluation of our 2015 budget on Wednesday night. We have seven days to discuss improvements with the City Council. If we can't reach an agreement then we are forced to use a budget limited to the amount of the revised 2014 budget," he said. The revised 2014 budget totaled Rp 72.9 trillion (US$5.5 billion).

"But we'll try to reach an agreement as long as the councilors don't make us compromise with their dubious allocations," Ahok said. (***)