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Golkar’s unity again in question, this time over Ahok
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (left) accompanies Golkar Party central executive board officials Setya Novanto (right) and Agung Laksono (center) during the party’s regional conference in Jakarta. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
F
ragmented support for Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama in the Golkar Party has threatened the unity of the party, only months after it was able to resolve a year-long split from infighting for party control.
Chairman Setya Novanto raised the matter when lambasting opposition voices to the party's endorsement of Ahok, as well as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in his speech during the opening ceremony of Kosgoro, a Golkar-affiliated multipurpose organization, on Wednesday evening in Jakarta.
“I suggest those who made speeches earlier [questioning Golkar’s decision] to once in a while talk with the management board,” Setya said.
He was referring to calls made by members of the party’s honorary council, including chief Aburizal Bakrie, who lost the party’s chairmanship race to Setya in May this year, and council member Fahmi Idris, who questioned Golkar’s support for Ahok, as well as the party’s “early” endorsement for Jokowi’s second term.
Setya’s remarks came only days after Aburizal and Fahmi made separate statements at the party’s headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, questioning Golkar’s decision to support Jokowi and Ahok.
Fahmi, an influential figure in the party, particularly warned that Golkar could retract its support from Ahok from the mounting protests against the Jakarta governor for allegedly committing blasphemy.
Golkar is slated to hold a meeting at the headquarters on Thursday, with all its board members expected to attend, including both Aburizal and Fahmi, to discuss the party’s different stances on Ahok’s case. (bbn)
