Teman Ahok Remains Confident in Ahok's Independent Candidacy
29 June 2016 19:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama supporter group Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) remains confident that Ahok will run as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.
"Despite criticism, the most realistic ticket [to the election] is through the independent channel," Teman Ahok founder Singgih Widyastomo said during the verification of one million identity cards in Pejaten, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
Singgih's confidence was based on Teman Ahok's success in collecting one million identity cards as a requirement for Ahok to run in the election without endorsements from political parties.
Singgih explained that the verification of identity cards was conducted to answer doubts raised by public.
After collecting one million identity cards, three major political parties: the Functional Group (Golkar) Party, the People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party and the National Democratic (NasDem) Party declared supports for Ahok. To this date, Ahok has not yet decided whether he will run as an independent candidate or through a political party.
Earlier, several political figures, such as Adian Napitulu, Habiburokhman and Abraham "Lulung" Lunggana had expressed their doubt that Teman Ahok would manage to collect one million identity cards. In response to the doubt, Teman Ahok invited them to verify the achievement.
Earlier on June 19, 2016, Teman Ahok announced their success in collecting one million identity cards on its official website. The one million identity card is a requirement for Ahok to run in the upcoming 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election as an independent candidate.
EGI ADYATAMA