Teman Ahok Volunteers Transform to Sejuta Teman to Support Jokowi
29 August 2018 09:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Teman Ahok (friends of Ahok), a volunteer group supporting the former governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok changed its name to Sejuta Teman (a million friends) to back Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin pair in the 2019 Presidential Election.
“Teman Ahok volunteers declare support for Joko Widodo - Ma’ruf Amin in the 2019 election. To raise broader support, Teman Ahok transforms to Sejuta Umat movement,” said Mohammad Fathony as Sejuta Umat coordinator who was a founder of Teman Ahok in a written statement, Tuesday, August 28.
Fathony said the decision was taken following series of discussions, considerations, and polling on Teman Ahok social media. Most of the respondents said they -as volunteers- should guard presidential race by supporting the incumbent candidate pair, Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin.
He explained the vote abstention was not an option among Teman Ahok considering there were some communities willing to change Pancasila (the country’s ideology) while some actively campaigned to change the president.
“The missions of Teman Ahok has been done, and for 2019 we must stand in a new name because of different coverage,” Fathony added.
Fathony opined the condition of a political campaign was concerning, judging by the emerges of false or hoax news circulated on social media and broadcasted messages.
“Thus, Sejuta Umat will move to call on volunteers as many as possible to spread [message of] kindness. Encouraging the positive campaign situation which is good and fair and the constructive discussion on social media. We will strive to collect facts to ward off hoax news that spread as a black campaign,” said Fathony.
Fathony pinned hope all Jakartans and Indonesian people supporting Ahok in Gubernatorial Election 2017 could actively partake in backing Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin in 2019 Presidential Election.
ANTARA