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Jakarta Post

'€˜Safari Ramadhan'€™ brings Ahok, residents closer

Dozens of residents listened attentively as Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama took the podium at the Duren Sawit subdistrict office in East Jakarta to break the fast with residents

Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, June 29, 2015

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'€˜Safari Ramadhan'€™ brings Ahok, residents closer

D

ozens of residents listened attentively as Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama took the podium at the Duren Sawit subdistrict office in East Jakarta to break the fast with residents.

It was the first time that Ahok had broken the fast with residents as governor this year. As governor, Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is obliged to go on a '€œSafari Ramadhan'€ to break the fast with residents during Islam'€™s holy month. Last year, he also carried out the tradition as acting governor.

The residents sat in rows on carpets and some stood up to get a better look at their governor. Ahok, who wore traditional Betawi clothing consisting of a black peci (rimless cap), a white baju koko (long-sleeved collarless shirt) and a checkered shawl around the neck, gave his standard greetings and spoke in front of his constituents.

'€œThank you for having me here. We must be thankful that we are gathered here during this holy month,'€ Ahok said.

He said that as governor, he would like to become closer to the city'€™s residents in order to cooperate in creating a new Jakarta.

Compared with his predecessor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, Ahok is less attentive in visiting city residents.

'€œJakarta is a large city with much potential. It'€™s a shame that it has been mismanaged for so long. That is why I have been trying to overhaul our civil service so that we can provide everyone with a better city. If I see civil servants slacking off, I will fire them,'€ Ahok said, to which the residents cheered and clapped.

After Ahok finished his speech, local cleric Fachrudin took the podium to make a speech before breaking the fast.

The cleric told the story of Umar bin Khattab, the second Khalifah in Islam. Fachrudin said that before accepting Islam, Umar was a rough man who saw the Prophet Muhammad as his enemy. Ahok listened attentively and occasionally laughed.

'€œUmar became one of the best leaders in Islam,'€ Fachrudin said.

When the adzan maghrib finally called for Muslims to break their fast and conduct prayers, Ahok stayed behind to mingle with residents. Dozens of residents surrounded Ahok, overwhelming his five official bodyguards. Some asked him to pose for pictures while others complained about problems they had experienced in the city.

Ahok took the time to shake hands with those present and listen to what they needed to tell him.

One resident, who brought dozens of pages of documents, approached Ahok and asked for his help.

'€œPlease help my family, Mr. Governor. Our land is being taken away unjustly,'€ said the resident. Ahok took the documents and said that he would review the matter.

Ahok then enjoyed a dinner prepared by the subdistrict office. Knowing that Ahok enjoyed eating durian, the residents served him a whole durian for desert.

Residents expressed their excitement at meeting their governor for the first time. For example, 61-year-old Rohani Handayani said that she rarely stepped out of her house, but did so just to meet Ahok. Rohani came with her neighbors.

'€œI have a hard time stepping out of the house because my legs are very weak. But I gathered my energy so that I could come here to meet Pak Ahok,'€ Rohani said.

She went on to say that Ahok was nothing like what she had in mind.

'€œPak Ahok is very nice and handsome. I have only seen him angry on television and I thought that he would be mean. I appreciate that he came here to break the fast with us even though he doesn'€™t practice fasting,'€ she said.

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