“I haven’t had time [to meet him personally]. The point is, I will meet him, but I don’t know when. Besides, I have sought forgiveness from him through the media,” Ahok told journalists on the sidelines of a blusukan (impromptu visit) to Ciracas in East Jakarta on Thursday.

“Of course, we can meet to strengthen silaturahim [the bonds of friendship],” he added.

(Read also: Yudhoyono refutes allegation he influenced MUI to support son's candidacy)

Ahok previously accused Ma'ruf, a noted religious figure, of making a biased recommendation about his blasphemy case. The non-active governor also claimed he had evidence of a conspiracy between Ma'ruf and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the issuance of the recommendation.

Yudhoyono’s son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono will compete against Ahok in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election.

During his eighth blasphemy hearing on Tuesday, Ahok threatened Ma'ruf, who attended the trial as a witness, with legal steps for giving false testimony. The governor referred to Ma’ruf’s testimony during the hearing, in which he repeatedly denied he had received a phone call from Yudhoyono on Oct. 6, one day before a meeting between Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) executives, Agus and his running mate Sylviana Murni. Ma’ruf also attended the meeting.

On Wednesday, Ahok and his legal team issued an apology through the media and clarified that they would not file a report against Ma'ruf. (ebf)

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