Sandiaga Retorts Ridicules of His `ATM Card-Sized Tempeh` Quote
11 September 2018 16:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice Presidential hopeful Sandiaga Uno asked the public to stop making fun of his recent comment suggesting that tempeh (fermented soybean) has slimmed to the size of an ATM card due to the current economic situation. He maintained that it was based on people`s aspirations.
“What I said was the voice of the people, word-after-word was what the people said,” Sandiaga explained today, Sept. 11, following numerous online memes and jokes making fun of his statement.
His reference of tempeh that had to be sliced as thin as an ATM card highlighted numerous public discussions. However, Sandiaga claimed that it was a genuine complaint from a Duren Sawit resident named Yuli as a reflection of Yuli`s economic condition.
Read: Rupiah Weakens, Sandiaga: Tempeh as Thin as ATM Card
“She said that the size of tempeh had to be sliced to the point that it resembles an ATM card. Ibu Yuli from Duren Sawit said that yesterday, she also had to skim the size of tofu she sells,” Sandiaga said last Friday.
However, Sandiaga does not deny that her statement quite a hyperbole but still maintains that it is a genuine expression of people’s struggle. “Was it hyperbolic? It might have been. But it was mentioned by a member of society, we must not use it as a bullying material,” said the former Jakarta Deputy Governor.
Sandiaga Uno claims such ridicules show that the social gap had just increased where upper-class citizens are out of touch with the current condition in the middle to lower-class society.
However, Sandiaga Uno’s statement was countered by Indonesia Kerja Coalition volunteer Maman Imanulhaq who said that the vice presidential candidate’s statement is not backed by proof in the real world. “I checked the local food joints (warteg), the tempeh was still large-sized,” said Maman.
M ROSSENO AJI