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Jakartans express love for ‘mantan’
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama will leave office in October, but some residents are already mourning his impending departure following his loss in the runoff election on April 19.
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Hundreds of wreath displayed in front of the city hall in Central Jakarta, Wednesday, April 26,2017. The wreaths was sent by Basuki and Djarot supporters expresing their gratitude for their leadership (JP/Seto Wardhana)
J
akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama will leave office in October, but some residents are already mourning his impending departure following his loss in the runoff election on April 19. They have sent nearly 1,000 flower boards to City Hall and made the hashtag #GombalinAhok, which literally means “sweet-talking Ahok,” explode on Twitter.
On one of the flower boards spilling out from the City Hall compound, its senders call Ahok and his Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat their mantan terindah (best exes), while others wrote, “from us who cannot move on.”
A resident of Kedoya Utara, West Jakarta, Agatha Dinny, re-posted her photos when Ahok made a surprise visit to her ill mother Liany on Feb. 9, writing: “It’s not about moving on. [I] just feel broken-hearted. I have broken up but still keep the fond memory of my best ex,” referring to the outgoing governor.
Dinny was not alone as hundreds of residents reportedly flocked to City Hall from 6 a.m. on Wednesday to see Ahok.
Ahok arrived at the office at 7:20 a.m., but his car could not enter the vicinity due to the huge crowd. As he stepped out of his car in front of the gate of City Hall, the residents swarmed to shake his hand. Some tried to get closer to Ahok to take pictures and videos from their mobile phones.
After reaching the lobby, Ahok took a few minutes for photo opportunities with the residents before leaving the compound to attend the opening of the Regional Development Planning Forum (Musrenbang) in South Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo also attended the forum.
“I am sorry to all. I need to attend another meeting after this. I need to see the President,” Ahok said.
