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Golkar tells Ahok to leave independent path
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A shopper holds a T-shirt bearing the words “KTP gue buat Ahok” (My identity card is for Ahok) at a Teman Ahok booth in Puri Indah Mall, West Jakarta, on April. 24. Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has announced that he will run as an independent candidate in the city’s 2017 gubernatorial election. (Antara/Dodo Karundeng)
G
olkar Party chairman Setya Novanto has advised Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to leave his independent path and seek reelection through nomination from political parties ahead of the 2017 gubernatorial election.
“I hope Ahok will move with political parties because in the current situation, political parties could give a great contribution [to his gubernatorial bid],” Setya said as reported by tribunnews.com on Monday.
He said, however, that his party’s decision to nominate a gubernatorial candidate would be made at its Jakarta chapter congress on June 18.
“I hope that the June 18 event will take place smoothly. We are realistic. We have to support the [probable] winner,” he said.
Setya said he previously worked with Ahok when the latter was a lawmaker for Golkar. “Ahok used to be my subordinate at the House of Representatives. He showed good performance. He always worked for the people,” he added.
He also praised Ahok’s performance as Jakarta governor, saying the party would consider nominating him as its gubernatorial candidate. He said he believed Ahok would eventually join a political party or parties for his election bid.
Ahok declared himself an independent candidate in March, pairing with Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD) head Heru Budi Hartono.
Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteers have reportedly collected nearly one million photocopies of Jakarta voters’ identity cards to support Ahok, with the law requiring him to have a minimum of 532,000 ID copies as an indication of voter support. (bbn)
