T

he Muslim Forum Secretariat has opened up selection for Muslim candidates to run for the governor of Jakarta in the 2017 regional election. The organization says that dozens of people have registered.

Syafiq Alaidrus, secretary of the organization, said Wednesday that registration would be open between Feb. 20 and March 10 and four people had already passed the initial selection phase to be nominated as a candidate.

'€œFour people have passed the documents selection phase. One of the criteria to be nominated is that the candidate should be a Muslim with integrity,'€ Syafiq said as quoted by kompas.com.

A number of Muslim figures in Jakarta, led by Islam Defenders Front (FPI) patron Habib Rizieq, initiated the selection process to endorse a candidate to compete against Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama in the election.

Rizieq said last week that the nomination was designed to register their objections to Ahok'€™s leadership. According to Rizieq, Ahok is an '€œarrogant leader'€.

Aside from the incumbent Ahok, Ridwan and Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini had both garnered support from political parties and the public on the back of their respective performances. Both Ridwan and Tri have been dubbed Ahok'€™s main contenders for the upcoming election.

Ahok announced that he will run for Jakarta Governor next year as an independent candidate, having resigned from Gerindra in 2014.