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Ahok welcomes rival candidates for Jakarta election
Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has welcomed the announcement of a new candidate pair seeking to unseat him and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election next year.
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (left) and deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat pose on Tuesday after signing an agreement with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which is backing their campaign to remain in office. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has welcomed the announcement of a new candidate pair seeking to unseat him and his deputy, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election next year.
Maj. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has teamed up with Sylviana Murni, a subordinate to Ahok in the city administration, to join the race.
Ahok said he believed the decision by Democratic Party chairman Yudhoyono to appoint his son was taken after thorough consideration. Yudhoyono lead a meeting with three other political parties, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), to agree on a candidate pair to back in the election. The four parties announced their agreement on Agus and Sylviana, who is currently the Jakarta governor assistant for culture and tourism, in the early hours of Friday, following a long meeting.
"It was SBY's [Yudhoyono] decision to appoint Agus. He must have been wise in deciding this, he has calculated this," Ahok told journalists at City Hall on Friday.
However, he refused to be compared with Agus, a 38-year-old member of the Army, as the later did not have experience in politics or as a regional leader. However, he said he respected Agus's candidacy in the election, adding that all candidates had equal positions.
Ahok also expressed support for Sylviana and praised her performance in the city administration. He had no problems with her decision to run in the election, as he always urged his subordinates to work hard for the city.
"Later, the public can assess Sylviana. I think she is an active person and diligent in organization," Ahok said. (rin)
