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Anies goes after Ahok’s supporter base
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Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan (center right) and his running mate Sandiaga Uno (center left) speak to reporters during a press conference at the Gerindra Party’s headquarters in Jakarta on Feb. 15. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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akarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan believes he might have a chance of winning in Cengkareng district, West Jakarta, where his competitor and Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama won 49 percent of the vote in the first round, while he only obtained 34 percent.
On Tuesday Anies visited only two districts on his campaign schedule, Duri Kosambi and Kapuk, both located in Cengkareng. Anies, who has promised a more low-key campaign to reduce spending, was greeted by a pencak silat martial arts performance and hundreds of local residents who had been waiting for hours.
During his visit to Kapuk, Anies said it was time for the city to have a new governor and promised he would make Jakarta a better place to live for marginalized residents.
“In Jakarta rich people keep getting richer while the poor become poorer. I want to change that,” he said.
(Read also: Low-income voters critical for both Ahok, Anies: Analyst)
During Tuesday’s visit he also made a veiled attack against Ahok, saying a leader must be able to control their emotions instead of being highly temperamental, a trait that some associate with the incumbent governor.
Anies’ political consultant Eep Saefullah Fatah previously said that ahead of the runoff election, the campaign would focus on neighborhoods previously won by Ahok or former candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, as increasing the voter base was considered an effective strategy.
