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Jakarta Post

‘Wefie’ marks beginning of gubernatorial campaign

Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, September 26, 2016

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‘Wefie’ marks beginning of gubernatorial campaign Smile: Former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan, one of the candidates in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, takes a group photo with other candidates during a break from a mandatory medical examination on Saturday. (Courtesy of Instagram/-)

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ollowing a hectic nomination and registration process, Jakarta’s gubernatorial candidates visited Mintohardjo Navy Hospital in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, for medical checkups on Saturday.

It was their first direct encounter with one another after officially declaring their candidacy for an election that is tipped by many to be a tight three-horse race.

Smear campaigns have started to appear on social media and fierce debates between supporters of the three candidate pairs are likely to become a regular feature of the capital over the next few months.

However, at the hospital, the candidates made a friendly gesture. The six of them took a selfie together and posted it on a social media.

“Selfies before medical checkup,” governor candidate Anies Baswedan wrote on his Instagram account next to a picture of him; his running mate Sandiaga Uno; Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama; Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat; the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono; and his running mate Sylviana Murni.

The picture was followed by another photo posted on Sandiaga’s social media account showing the six candidates with the hospital’s medical team.

“We might even create a WhatsApp group,” Sylviana told reporters on the sidelines of the event. Sylviana’s quip was met with laughter from the other candidates.

Prior to her candidacy, Sylviana was Ahok’s assistant for tourism, and while the governor said he was aware of Sylviana’s political ambitions, he displayed no hard feelings on the day. All the candidates were smiling in the picture.

Some Islamic groups are trying out various schemes to prevent the reelection of Ahok, who they refer to as a kafir (infidel), including by calling on Muslim voters to join together in an alliance to oppose him.

Ahok said the election was a competition of ideas and programs to create a better city for the residents of Jakarta.

“I dont want to hear any sara [ethnic, religious, racial] remarks during the election campaign,” he said.

The long campaign will begin on Oct. 26 and end on Feb. 11, four days before election day itself. In the case of a second round election, balloting day will be held on April 19.

The law requires Ahok to take leave during the campaign period. The governor has challenged the rule and the Constitutional Court is expected to issue its verdict on the issue soon.

The ‘‘wefie’’ has been praised by many because it seems to signal that the governor and deputy governor, and their challengers, will engage in a peaceful and democratic election process.

Jakarta resident Devie Nova said the photo demonstrated the goodwill of the candidates. Devie hoped the goodwill could be extended over the coming months.

“I hope the residents of Jakarta can see the positive message in the picture,” she told The Jakarta Post.

In the past few weeks, issues of sectarianism have clouded the election. For the first time in

Indonesia’s history, a Christian Chinese-Indonesian is running openly for the position of governor. Ahok, who tops the polls, is thought by many to be the front-runner in the race.

On Sunday, the candidates underwent psychological tests at the hospital and drug tests at a laboratory at the National Narcotics Agency in Cawang, East Jakarta.

“I’m fine. I’m not a psychopath,” Ahok told reporters jokingly after the psychological test.

The governor seemed to be responding to vitriolic comments from some of his political rivals, including from politician Abraham “Lulung” Lunggana of the United Development Party. Lulung accused Ahok of having mental problems, reflected by Ahok’s direct and forceful temperament.

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