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New candidates need realistic programs to beat Ahok, says observer
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Smile: Former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan, one of the candidates in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, takes a group photo with other candidates during a break from a mandatory medical examination on Saturday. (Courtesy of Instagram/-)
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on-incumbent candidates will have a difficult time winning Jakarta residents' hearts during the upcoming gubernatorial elections to outshine current Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a political observer has said.
“Both Anies and Agus have to convince the residents. The residents will expect something more given that Jakarta is now considered to be better managed [during Ahok’s era],” Sebastian Salang of the Indonesian Parliament Watch (Formappi) said on Sunday.
Sebastian was referring to Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, gubernatorial candidates from the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni, candidates backed by the Democratic Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and National Mandate Party (PAN).
Ahok, Sebastian argued, has proven himself able to manage the transparency of the city budget and to improve public services. He has also tried to deal with severe floods that hit Jakarta during the rainy season.
Hence, the other candidates needed to have realistic ideas and programs to gain public sympathy, Sebastian added. In the meantime, Ahok also needed to show residents that he could advance and develop even better programs, he asserted. (wnd)
