B

ahasa menunjukkan bangsa (language defines a nation), we say in Indonesia, but we also believe that the language we use reflects our personality and character.

No wonder that Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama has come under fire for his '€œpotty mouth'€ (bahasa toilet). Potty mouth? Yes, swear words like '€œs**t'€ ('€œtahi'€ in Indonesian) regularly stream out of his mouth when he gets angry.

Ahok is in fact famous for his temperamental nature, and he gets angry a lot. He caught a lot of flak when he started swearing on Kompas TV recently and wouldn'€™t stop even after the interviewer reminded him they were being aired live.

Admittedly, there'€™s a lot to be angry about. These past few months, one of the main targets of Ahok'€™s wrath has been the incompetence and corruption of the Jakarta City Council (DPRD).

Ahok publicly accused the council of including questionable items that added up to Rp 12.1 trillion (US$930 million) to the 2015 city budget, inflating it to more than Rp 90 trillion.

Naturally, his outspokenness, sincerity, courage and willingness to fight has given him hero status in the eyes of many people. Sure, he'€™s rash and abrasive; but hey, let'€™s give priority to ethics rather etiquette.

According to historian and native Betawi JJ Rizal, Ahok has not been rejected because of his character and speech, but because as an ethnic Chinese Christian, he'€™s not part of the majority.

Let'€™s not forget that the nation was founded by all the ethnic groups that make up Indonesia, so rejecting Ahok is rejecting the basic premise on which the nation was founded.

Clearly, it'€™s wrong to reject Ahok on the basis of his ethnicity and religion, or because of his coarse manners. And even less so on the fact that he is a staunch anti-corruption figure. So let'€™s assess and criticize him on the basis of his performance as governor.

In any case, he'€™s not the only governor to use foul language. The late legendary Ali Sadikin, governor of Jakarta from 1966-1977, was even more abrasive than Ahok. He was sometimes referred to as '€œGubernur Monyet'€ (the Monkey Governor), not because he looked like a monkey (in fact he was decidedly handsome!), but because '€œmonyet'€ was one of the most frequent insults he would hurl at people he was angry with.

He would, however, not do it as publicly as Ahok does on YouTube, and of course social media and live streaming didn'€™t exist at the time.

Sadikin would also assume the responsibility '€” and the blame '€” for mistakes that happened. But behind closed doors '€” as he felt that esprit de corps should be guarded '€” he would not only lash out at the staff that made the mistake; he allegedly sometimes even beat them.

Yes, Sadikin was famous for his loud mouth, but he was also famous for his controversial and daring policies '€” which bore results. For example, he legalized '€œsteambaths'€ (de facto brothels) and gambling, and used them to build schools and hospitals.

He rehabilitated public services, set up the Kampung Improvement Program (KIP), the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) cultural center, as well as the Legal Aid Institute (LBH). Despite his heavy-handed urban reforms, he was considered a popular leader who sought to address the problems of Jakarta at the time.

Ahok has stated he wants to emulate Ali Sadikin. That'€™s a tall order! How much has he achieved in his two-and-a-half years at the helm of Jakarta administration? It'€™s true, he'€™s only been governor since November 2014, but he'€™s been handling Jakarta since October 2012.

The most pressing problems facing Jakarta in 2015 are the same that has been true for years: floods '€” of cars, people and water.

What has Ahok done about them and why doesn'€™t the DPRD confront him on these issues rather than fight publicly tooth-and-nail over the 2015 budget and even aim to impeach him?

During his campaign, Ahok rejected the idea of a six-lane toll road (as it would increase congestion). Now he approves it. Why doesn'€™t the DPRD scream about this, as it involves the Jakarta ecosystem?

And what about the Giant Sea Wall (GSW), which supposedly would prevent flooding in Jakarta, but which is in fact a way for developers to make more money?

Former Jakarta governor and current President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and Ahok, then deputy Jakarta governor, rejected it at the beginning of their term.

At the time, they listened to environmental groups who said that the GSW would have a negative impact on the ecosystem and environment around the coastal area, especially for traditional fishermen.

But last December Ahok signed the permit for the construction of the GSW. Hello?

Let'€™s assess Ahok on the merits and demerits of his performance as governor, not because of his ethnicity, his '€œheathen'€ status (according to the Islam Defenders Front), or because of his swearing.

Ask him why he hasn'€™t been consistent in his policy decisions. Could it have anything to do with his presidential ambitions for 2019?

A lot of funds are needed for campaigning, after all, as we all know, right Ahok?

I don'€™t want Ahok toppled, impeached or removed in any way. I want him to get on with his job as governor of Jakarta.

I want him to stick to his promises. I want him to defend the interests of the citizens of Jakarta with his life, as he often claims.

So please, let'€™s stop nagging him, stop pestering him about personal aspects of his behavior and instead support him by giving him constructive criticism, suggestions and moral support when needed.

As for you Ahok, I believe your heart is in the right place. But please use your (cool) head more, open your eyes and ears to the needs of the people of Jakarta and wash that mouth out with soap, okay?
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The writer is the author of Julia'€™s Jihad.