TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's supporter group Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) continues to collect identity cards to promote Ahok as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.
Based on Tempo's observation, a Teman Ahok’s booth remain opens in Kuningan City, South Jakarta. Although the shopping center was packed by visitors, not many people came to the booth.
On Sunday, June 19, 2016, Teman Ahok celebrated their achievement of collecting 1 million identity cards for Ahok. The celebration was held at Teman Ahok's secretariate in Pejaten, South Jakarta.
Unfortunately, attendants of the booth the booth refused to comment on their success achieving the target. Lia, 27, one of the attendants, said that they were instructed not to provide any statement. In addition, they also prohibit Tempo to take any pictures.
"Sorry, we're not comfortable being asked questions like this. You should ask the questions to the secretariat," Lia said on Friday, June 24, 2016.
The reason behind the silence remains unclear. Earlier on Friday, last week, Tempo could have interviews with attendants from booths at shopping malls.
"Since the beginning, we have been instructed not to say anything. They [who made any statements] probably did not understand the instruction," Lia added.
As the target of collecting 1 million identity cards was reached, three political parties approached Ahok and declared their supports for the current Jakarta governor. The three parties are the National Democratic Party (NasDem), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), and the Functional Group (Golkar) Party.
LARISSA HUDA
