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Ahok decides to run on party ticket
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama - JP/PJ
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Basuki Tjahaja Purnama - JP/PJ. Leo
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is set to hold meetings with the country’s largest political organization, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), after eventually deciding to run for the 2017 gubernatorial election on a party ticket.
Ahok announced his decision on Wednesday during a halal bihalal (a post-Ramadhan gathering) with his volunteer group Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) and the three parties that have officially declared their support for his candidacy, namely the Golkar Party, the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party.
“We have to appreciate the parties and Teman Ahok. It is a final decision. I will run on a party ticket,” he said.
The decision, he added, was taken after he witnessed the group teaming up with the parties to collect a million copies of identity cards in a bid to secure a place for him in the election.
“There were many party members silently taking part in collecting the IDs. Moreover, when Teman Ahok asked for a written endorsement, the parties responded quickly by immediately making the announcement letters,” Ahok added. “I really see how the parties respect the youngsters in Teman Ahok and vice versa.”
However, gaining the support from the three parties, who together have more than 22 seats on the City Council, the minimum number for a party or group of parties to nominate a candidate, doesn’t seem to have been enough for Ahok.
Ahok indicated that he was interested in securing an endorsement from the PDI-P, a party that has 25 seats on the council, and he indicated that he planned to soon meet personally with the party’s chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
“The most certain thing is that I will see Bu Mega for halal bihalal. Since Lebaran, I have not met her,” said Ahok, claiming that many senior PDI-P members actually endorsed him and had taken part in collecting IDs for him.
He refused, however, to mention the names of those PDI-P members he claimed as supporters.
The governor added that his lobbying moves with the PDI-P would be supported by the three parties.
Asked whether he would stick with his initial plan to pair up with Heru Budi Hartono, who is currently the head of the Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD), Ahok said he still welcomed the chance to team up with anyone, including his current deputy governor and PDI-P member Djarot Saiful Hidayat.
Many surveys, including the most recent poll conducted by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), placed Ahok far ahead of the other names mentioned to the public as rivals, such as former minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Surabaya Mayor and PDI-P candidate Tri “Risma” Rismaharini and businessman Sandiaga Uno.
The SMRC survey stated that Ahok would probably win the election even without the support of the PDI-P.
As Ahok is likely to receive support from the PDI-P, his rivals will probably come from the Gerindra Party, the second biggest party in Jakarta. It was reported earlier that the party would team up with the Prosperous Justice Party to nominate former Jakarta Military Commander Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Following the declaration of a party ticket, Teman Ahok is willing to work together with the parties to ensure Ahok’s victory, even if it means the organization has to set aside its initial desire for an independent ticket, said the group’s spokeswoman Amalia Ayuningtyas.
“For the sake of the public, we have to set aside our ego [for an independent ticket] and the decision has been made. Hopefully, this is the best path for a better Jakarta,” Amalia said.
Previously, Teman Ahok insisted that Ahok had to continue his fight on an independent ticket.
Separately, the chairman of Golkar’s Jakarta chapter, Fayakhun Andriadi, revealed that his party was “a bit surprised” to find Ahok choosing such a coalition.
Nonetheless, Golkar said it would support any measure taken by Ahok for the election, including Ahok’s choice for a running mate.
“We will support anyone he chooses, even if he chooses a broomstick,” Fayakhun said, adding that the cooperation between Teman Ahok and the parties showed that political moves in the country had become “modern and unusual”.
