TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsAhok's rough style a 'defense mechanism'
Two weeks into his job as deputy governor, Basuki âAhokâ Tjahaja Purnama, now the governor, showed the public that he had what it takes to reform Jakartaâs administration, which was perceived by the public as being unaccountable and having low work ethics
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
T
wo weeks into his job as deputy governor, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, now the governor, showed the public that he had what it takes to reform Jakarta's administration, which was perceived by the public as being unaccountable and having low work ethics.
In his viral YouTube video uploaded in early November 2012, Ahok, a double minority from small town Belitung Timur in Bangka Belitung, stunned his subordinates and the public by threatening to fire the head of the Public Works Agency for alleged markups.
The video propelled him into wild popularity among a public that was hungry for a clean and effective leader who provided hope for radical change in the bureaucracy. The eager public threw their support behind Ahok, and he quickly became a media darling.
That occasion has defined Ahok's communication and leadership style, which is controversial and often a case of people either loving it or hating it.
University of Indonesia (UI) communications expert Ade Armando said Ahok's rough style should actually be seen as a defense mechanism. Ade pointed out that ever since Ahok ran as deputy governor candidate with Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (now the president) running for governor, rivals had attacked Ahok on his ethnicity and religion. Ahok is a Chinese Indonesian and a Protestant.
Ade said although the duo finally secured the positions, Ahok still faced a mountain of challenges, not least because he was not familiar with Jakarta bureaucrats.
Ade said Ahok did not have a strong ally in the administration from the beginning, so he needed to test the waters about whom he was going to trust. 'It was hard for him to decide who was with him and who was against him,' he said.
After winning public sympathy, Ahok made the public, through the press, his ally. Through the press he would say bad things about subordinates he did not trust, while praising the ones he wanted to side with him.
Ahok said it was a shock therapy for his subordinates, so that they would perform better.
Ade pointed out that with that kind of mindset, Ahok's first reaction when criticized was to go on the defensive by being aggressive, sometimes with rude words and accusations. 'He is always on alert, as he feels he is attacked from all directions,' Ade said.
He added that, for that reason, it was hard for people to express constructive criticisms of Ahok, because he was overly defensive. 'It is important to have someone close to him who can mediate between Ahok and his critics', Ade said, adding that these mediators could deliver the criticism in a calm and rational manner, so Ahok would not think of it as a personal attack.
Many activists and organizations have complained about Ahok's response to their voices and thoughts. Many accused Ahok of not being able to open his mind to different opinions and schools of thought.
Ade said, however, that Ahok's style would not affect his electability as long as he could prove that he was reliable in delivering progress in Jakarta. 'If he is still credible and shows progress in Jakarta, people will just shrug off the negative effect of his harsh attitude,' he said.
The expert also called on the governor to rethink his response to any issues. 'It is better for him to discuss a matter with his inner circle before commenting about something,' he said.
When The Jakarta Post asked him for a comment about people complaining that the governor did not accommodate them, Ahok appeared to be upset. 'Who told you that? I even listen to the aspiration of an old lady [who came to the City Hall],' he said.
Ahok said the City Hall had always been open to anyone who wanted to meet him. 'I always ask for their phone numbers, so I can directly order my agency heads to handle the matter,' he said.
Ahok said, however, that he could not listen to every piece of criticism. 'We do not know how many people agree with me. We'll see in February 2017,' he said, referring to the next gubernatorial election.
