Anies conducts Friday prayers in Bukit Duri eviction area

Presumptive governor-elect Anies Baswedan conducted Friday prayers at Al Hidayah Mosque in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, where controversial evictions took place last year to make way for a river-restoration project.

Anies told the congregation that he chose to conduct the prayers there to remind himself about his campaign promise to take sides with “the weak”.

“I chose to conduct Friday prayers here in Bukit Duri to remind myself that I have promised you several things during the campaign period and I shall keep those promises,” he said.

(Read also: Evictees take up hard stance against Ahok in election)

On the campaign trail, Anies pledged he would halt some of his rival, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s, controversial policies including the Jakarta Bay reclamation project and evictions.

Last year alone, the city administration conducted three major evictions, namely Kalijodo in North and West Jakarta, Pasar Ikan in North Jakarta and Bukit Duri in South Jakarta. 

Ahok proceeded with evicting the Bukit Duri residents in late September 2016 while a class action lawsuit filed by the residents against the evictions was still ongoing.