TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of a Betawi community organization, Muhammad Rifky, voiced his objection to the action done by Joko Widodo (Jokowi) when he announced his presidential candidacy at 'Rumah Si Pitung' (The House of Pitung).

Therefore, Rifky has called on Jokowi to make a public apology. "We are still waiting for Jokowi's apology in the next seven days. If he ignores our call, we will collect more support," he said in Marunda, Friday, March 20, 2014.

Rifky opined that there are several reasons as to why the Betawi community felt offended when Jokowi announced his presidential candidacy at Rumah Si Pitung a week ago.

First, the announcement was made without prior communication with Betawi figures, who are considered as the 'owners' of the Rumah Si Pitung.

"If he had met with the Betawi figures, we would have accompanied him. Out of the blue, he made the announcement there. By analogy, he broke into other people's house when the host is away," he said.

The second reason, he said, is that Rumah Si Pitung is a cultural conservation place and should not have been used for a political purpose by a certain group. "A cultural conservation place should not be used for political interests," he said.

ERWAN HERMAWAN