Volunteer group Teman Ahok has collected just over 1 million Jakartan KTP ID cards in support of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s independent run for re-election in 2017. This would’ve been extremely good news if not for the intricacies and insidiousness of Indonesian politics.
Ahok’s bid for an independent run should’ve been a straightforward, but it’s been complicated by the House of Representatives recently passing a law requiring the Jakarta Regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) to personally verify every single one of the KTPs that have been collected in Ahok’s name – an improbable task considering the verification period is only 14 days long.
While Teman Ahok has thought of ways to meet the uphill requirements, Ahok’s commitment towards an independent run seemingly wavered when he said that he and Teman Ahok should at least consider political party backing.
Yesterday, Teman Ahok announced that they reached the 1 million KTPs collected milestone, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated in Indonesia. Sadly, despite the good news, it seems that both Teman Ahok and Ahok are now open to political party backing for Ahok’s campaign in 2017.
Teman Ahok wrote these points, among others, on their official website as they announced the 1 million KTP collection achievement:
– Teman Ahok’s goal is to make Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as the Governor of Jakarta for the period of 2017-2022 without POLITICAL DEBT. We must emphasize the word “political debt” so that Ahok can be an independent governor who is not held hostage by political needs, not even by Teman Ahok’s. Ahok’s debt will only be to the people who elected him, not to whoever provided his ticket for election.
– As for whichever route [Ahok] is going to choose, it was reported before that Pak Ahok has asked Teman Ahok to discuss [the options available], and for that we express our gratitude. But not just with Pak Ahok, we have also opened communication lines with political parties that have declared their support for Ahok in order for us all to find a way. Teman Ahok is a people-based volunteer group, not politicians, and we have no experience in the intricacies of politics.
During a celebration event for Teman Ahok’s achievement yesterday, Ahok still didn’t fully commit to an independent run.
“Our decision is the same with Teman Ahok’s, we’re ready. We’re ready for the independent route, Teman Ahok’s also ready for the political party route,” Ahok said, as quoted by Kompas.
“What’s clear is that three parties have said they’d support my independent run, but I believe they too are ready to endorse me. It’s up to Teman Ahok to say if you (political parties) want to endorse [Ahok], where’s the official request?”
The three parties that previously declared their support for Ahok’s independent run were Golkar, Hanura, and Nasdem.
That being said, Ahok said he appreciates Teman Ahok’s effort and whatever option he would take will have to have Teman Ahok’s input and blessing.
“It’s not easy for Teman Ahok to collect 1 million [KTPs]. If I were to choose Teman Ahok but fail to be governor or be governor but leave Teman Ahok, I’d rather fail to be governor,” he said.
Whatever route Ahok eventually chooses, we still have to appreciate the amazing tireless work Teman Ahok put in to be able to collect 1 million KTPs for Ahok. However, it seems the battle is only half won and we can only hope that the KTPs can all be verified by the KPUD (or that the Supreme Court will overturn the new election law), so that Ahok can fulfill the wishes of so many Jakartans who want a leader who won’t have to answer to any political party.
A version of this article is available in Bahasa Indonesia at our sister site Coconuts Indonesia.
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