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Anies denies accusations of vote-buying
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Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan buys gorengan (fried snacks) from a food vendor at Rawa Belong, West Jakarta. Anies denied on Friday claims that his team has engaged in vote-buying during the campaign. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
J
akarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan has denied reports that his team has engaged in vote-buying during the 2017 gubernatorial election campaign.
“On [the allegations of] money politics, we will look into it. But, I doubt it [occurred],” Anies, who is the former culture and education minister, said on Friday as reported by kompas.com.
The Jakarta General Elections Supervisory Agency claimed on Thursday that Anies and his running mate businessman Sandiaga Uno, had committed the violations between Oct. 28 and Nov. 10. They allegedly engaged in vote-buying, using houses of worship for campaigning, involving children in campaigns and campaigning without a permit.
(Read also: Anies, Agus not ready to challenge Ahok in election, analyst says)
Anies claimed that children’s presence in the campaign was unavoidable as many parents did not have nannies.
“Most of the children are toddlers who cannot be left at home. These are not people who have babysitters. It is the middle class who has [babysitters]” he said.
On the alleged use of houses of worship, Anies claimed that he was very careful to avoid election issues when speaking in mosques.
“Just now, after conducting Friday prayers, the mosque board asked me to give a speech. I just thanked them for maintaining good relations and did not say anything further,” he said in the Wahid Hasyim area, Central Jakarta. (jun)
