ncumbent Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama’s campaign headquarters, known as Rumah Lembang, announced on Friday it had collected Rp 1.84 billion (US$136,929.45) worth of campaign donations from the public since Nov. 16, two days the headquarters began operations.
“This is the reason why we decided to open Rumah Lembang. We want to show that people have been participating in our campaign activities by donating,” Ahok said at his campaign headquarters on Jl. Lembang in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday.
Ahok has been meeting hundreds of his supporters at Rumah Lembang since Nov. 14 even with public resistance against him as the governor is implicated in a blasphemy case.
Rumah Lembang volunteers built an electronic data capture (EDC) system, which enables supporters to give donations to Ahok's campaign.
“Our concept is a people's campaign. It’s me who has applied for ‘the job’, so why should I need to pay for the campaign? It’s you who need to pay my wages,” Ahok said.
On Tuesday, the Jakarta General Elections Commission announced that Ahok and running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat reported to have had booked Rp 48 billion in campaign funds from public donations nationwide.
Ahok's campaign team further revealed the money came from gala dinners, and online and off-line donations. (ebf)
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