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'They don't understand Jakarta': Gerindra expresses doubts over deputy governor nominees
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Jakarta Council speaker Prasetyo Edi Marsudi (brownish shirt), deputy speaker M. Taufik (white shirt), and PKS Jakarta chapter’s sharia council head, Abdurrahman Suhaimi (in batik shirt) during a discussion on Tarik Ulur Pemilihan Calon Wakil Gubernur (push-pull strategy in the appointment of Jakarta Deputy Governor in this Nov. 21, 2018 file photo. (tempo.co/M. Julnis Firmansyah)
T
he Gerindra Party has said it was still doubtful about the capacity of two Jakarta deputy governor nominees endorsed by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), despite having approved them for the next phase of the selection process.
Gerindra Jakarta chairman Mohamad Taufik, who has been frank in declaring his reluctance to nominate PKS officials, said the two nominees did not truly understand urban issues, particularly those of Jakarta.
“They only understand Jakarta based on what they read,” he said on Friday as reported by tempo.co.
Taufik cited notes given by the panel assigned to the confirmation hearing and urged the nominees, Agung and Syaikhu, to quickly learn about the capital before one of them is declared the new deputy governor in a plenary meeting of the Jakarta Council.
“We have reminded them that they will be deputy governor of Jakarta residents,” Taufik added.
Read also: New deputy governor at last? Gerindra finally gives nod to PKS nominees
Longtime allies PKS and Gerindra were in a prolonged tug of war over the vacant deputy governor post following the departure of Sandiaga Uno in August last year to run as a vice presidential candidate with Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto.
But Gerindra and the PKS finally reached agreement on Friday over the final names to be officially submitted to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who will later forward the list to the Jakarta Council.
The parties plan to meet Anies on Monday.
Agung is the PKS Jakarta executive board secretary while Ahmad is a former deputy mayor of Bekasi, West Java.
The two, along with third nominee Abdrurrahman Suhaimi, have been evaluated by a screening panel, who recommended Agung and Ahmad as the final candidates deemed fit for the job.
