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Ahok hits campaign trail, displays Jokowi’s support
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (second left), Vice President Jusuf Kalla (third left) and Mufidah Jusuf Kalla (fourth left) greets Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his wife Veronica Tan (second right) during a gathering event after Idul Fitri at the State Palace on July 11. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)
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akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is set to leave his post at City Hall for more than three months as he hits the city’s streets campaigning with his deputy Djarot Saiful Hidayat in their bid to retain their jobs after the February 2017 gubernatorial election.
On Monday the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) officially declared Ahok and Djarot as governor and deputy governor candidates, respectively, to run against their two pairs of rivals:
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno.
On Tuesday the commission will draw the ticket numbers for the candidate pairs, while the campaign period is set to be held from Friday to Jan. 23.
Prior to a questioning session by the National Police’s detective unit, Ahok went to the State Palace to meet President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, regarded by many as his good friend, a move that again appeared to demonstrate Jokowi’s support for Ahok.
Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said the purpose of Ahok’s visit was merely to inform the President that he was about to take leave in order to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. “Ahok’s move was aimed at paying respect to Jokowi since he [Ahok] is governor of Indonesia’s capital,” Johan said.
Earlier, Ahok and Jokowi displayed their closeness through having their pictures taken together while visiting MRT and light rail transit (LRT) projects in Jakarta.
After meeting Jokowi, Ahok then visited the National Police’s detective unit, in a bid to put the allegations he insulted the Quran to rest before he hit the campaign trail,
The governor invited the police to question him about the case, which is currently under investigation. “I am here on my own initiative to clarify the allegation so the police are informed,” he said after four hours of questioning, telling reporters that he was “very sorry” for the misunderstanding and that he had no intention of insulting the Quran or offending Muslims.
Entering the race as the frontrunner Ahok is aware that the blasphemy allegation, which has stirred up controversy in the capital in which more than 90 percent of voters are Muslim, in the past few weeks could turn the tables in the race.
The blasphemy allegation has aroused public concern that the police could bow to pressure from certain hardline groups, as has happened previously. However, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the police would act according to the existing laws and procedures in carrying out the investigation into the alleged blasphemy.
Tito also called on everyone to remain calm and to refrain from what he described as unconstitutional actions. “In a democratic country, we allow the existing laws to work,” Tito added. “It is permissible to monitor the legal process, but not to pile on pressure by mobilizing the masses.”
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry will assign an interim governor for the Jakarta administration as the incumbent is running in the election, in a bid to avoid a power vacuum in the governor’s office.
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, however, declined to reveal the name of the acting Jakarta governor who will take over Ahok’s tasks during the election campaign, merely saying that senior officials at his ministry, such as regional autonomy director Soni Sumarsono or secretary-general Yuswandi Tumenggung, could be the right type of person.
“They have good track records, ample experience and have a good knowledge of local budgets,” Tjahjo told reporters on Monday. His statement seemed to quash speculation that the Jakarta City secretary Saefullah would take over as acting governor.
Despite the country never having seen a ministerial secretary-general sitting as interim regional leader, Tjahjo insisted that no law would be violated if his office appointed Yuswandi to the post without him having to leave his position at the ministry, referring to Presidential Regulation No. 11/2015 on the Home Ministry.
Ahok had challenged the Regional Elections Law that obliges incumbents to take leave during election campaigns. However, as the campaign period is just around the corner and the Constitutional Court has yet to issue any ruling, he was aware that he had no option left other than to take leave.
