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Ahok defends himself against Agus' criticism of tough-talking style
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Standing firm -- Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama explains his programs to improve people's welfare during the third gubernatorial candidate debate at Bidakara Hotel in Jakarta on Feb.10. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
R
esponding to criticism by rival gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said his tough-talking style came from his parents when they reprimanded their misbehaving children.
Ahok said all parents would reprimand their children if they behaved badly or cheated.
“All parents want their children to be successful. However, it will be hard for them to achieve success if their uncles and aunties give them anything that is not in line with their parents’ wishes,” Ahok told a press conference after the third Jakarta gubernatorial candidate debate at Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta late Friday.
He was responding to Agus' closing statement during the debate that the governor’s words had triggered public uproar. He did not elaborate.
(Read also: Rivals gnash teeth in final clash)
During the debate, Ahok described him and his running mate, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, as “parents" of Jakartans. Meanwhile, he called the two other candidate pairs, Agus and running mate Sylviana Murni and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno, uncles and aunt who offered sweet promises to their nieces and nephews.
“It takes time for us, as parents, to educate our children,” Ahok said.
To explain, he gave an example of how hard his administration had worked to train and educate evictees, who previously lived in slums, to become accustomed to living in low-cost apartments. (ebf)
