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cting Jakarta governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama has called on businesspeople, including event organizers, in the city to report all kinds of extortion conducted by his subordinates.

Ahok told reporters on Monday that he had said countless times as deputy governor that he was open to hearing any complaints, including on illegal levies and extortion, from residents.

'€œI have three phone numbers on my name card that people can use to deliver their complaints,'€ he said, adding he had also opened his door to residents.

Ahok has given out name cards to residents he has met since he ran in the gubernatorial election.

Since then, more than 4,000 complaints have been received from residents via text message to his phone number 0811944728.

Ahok said if private entities wanted to play clean, he asked them to fight against malicious practices in his administration, especially illegal levies.

Ahok'€™s statement emerged after an organizer of a Japanese cultural festival '€” Little Tokyo Ennichisai '€” in Blok M, South Jakarta, which was held earlier this month, complained that many officials had asked him for money so the event could receive a permit to proceed.

'€œI had a good intention to make a contribution to Blok M, but my intention was hampered and I faced a lot of extortion,'€ Little Tokyo Ennichisai Blok M committee head Daisei Takeya wrote on his Facebook page recently.

Daisei said if he had not paid the illegal levies, the event could not have been held.

'€œIt was impossible for me to cancel the event, so I had to pay them the money,'€ he said.

He added that high-ranking officials had '€œused'€ him. '€œI wanted to give the money to volunteers and communities around Blok M shopping center but I could not do that because of the extortion,'€ he said.

The committee head said this year'€™s event, which had been held for five consecutive years, was the last.

It is a open secret that illegal levies paid to both high and low-ranking officials, are a '€œduty'€ for event organizers if they want to ensure the events go well and the security of the events is maintained.

Ahok said he had called on the private entities to conduct their businesses in a honest manner.

'€œThey [businesspeople] are usually silent when the extortion remains affordable, but then they complain when the amount becomes too big,'€ he said.

The acting governor said many businesspeople probably did not want to report malicious practices as they knew his term as deputy governor only lasted for five years, while their businesses lasted a lifetime.

'€œMaybe they are afraid that Jakarta administration officials will make their lives difficult if I am no longer the deputy governor,'€ he said.

Tourism Agency head Arie Budhiman said the festival was not one of his agency'€™s programs.

'€œIt is the program of the South Jakarta municipality, so all kinds of permits are handled by the municipality office,'€ he said.

South Jakarta Mayor Syamsudin Noor could not be reached for comment on Monday.