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Islamist-nationalist party may endorse Ahok in second round of Jakarta elections
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National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar attends a religious event on Dec. 27, 2016 to commemorate late Abdurrahman “Gusdur” Wahid, a former president, who is known as a pluralistic figure. (Antara/M Agung Rajasa)
T
he incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said that he had the same views as the National Awakening Party (PKB) regarding religious issues in the capital, indicating that the party might support him in the second round of Jakarta elections slated for April 19.
“We have the same vision. PKB was pleased when I deemed Mbah Priok memorial cultural heritage,” Ahok said at City Hall on Thursday after meeting the Deputy Secretary General of PKB Daniel Johan on Thursday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
His move to develop the first Masjid Raya (grand mosque) in Jakarta was also in line with PKB’s vision, Ahok added. Expressing optimism to be endorsed in the runoff, Ahok said that PKB were his old friends as the party had backed him when he ran for Bangka Belitung governor in 2007.
Meanwhile, Daniel said that the party had not decided whether to back Ahok and Djarot Saiful Hidayat or Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno in the runoff after Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni, the pair it endorsed, lost in the first round of the election.
“We still want to wait until the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) announces the candidates that will run in the second round. We may declare support on Monday,” Daniel said. (cal/dan)
