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Agus woos Chinese-Indonesian voters
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Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (second right) and his running mate Sylviana Murni (center) visit Avalokitasvara Buddhist temple in Mangga Besar, Central Jakarta, on Oct. 19. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro A)
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akarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has tried to convince Chinese-Indonesian residents in the capital that he is a leader for all Jakarta people, including minority communities because his administration will follow non-discriminatory policies if he is elected.
"I want to introduce our spirit to achieve a 'Jakarta for all' that includes citizens of Chinese descent and Buddhist people," Agus said at Cilandak, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Agus, who was accompanied by his running mate Sylvian Murni visited a Buddhist temple and met with Buddhist and Chinese-Indonesian residents in Mangga Dua, Central Jakarta.
Read also: Agus promises to defend pluralism in Jakarta
It was the first time for Agus and Sylvi to meet with a minority group as previously most of his activities related to his candidacy in the 2017 gubernatorial election involved Muslim communities such as visits to mosques and Islamic study groups (pengajian).
Agus said that there were a number of citizens of Chinese descent who told him that they were worried by the situation ahead of the election following the emergence of ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup (SARA) sentiments that had spread in the public sphere.
Agus, a son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, stressed that sectarian issues should never be raised prior to the election on Feb. 15, 2017.
"I urge all citizens including my supporters to uphold ethical politics. We shall not heat up voters' emotions by using sensitive issues," he said. (bbn)
