TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nurul Arifin, Spokesperson of the Golkar Party’s newly elected chairman Setya Novanto said that the party plans to give its support for Basuki Tjahaja Punama as Jakarta Governor for the upcoming 2017 governor election.

"As for supporting Basuki, there’s strong indication that the party will support him. However, the talk is not over yet so we just wait and see,” Nurul said in Jakarta on Saturday (21/5).

Nurul added that Basuki remains a choice for many people. Thus, she added, Golkar party will support a candidate that is supported by many people.

"Basuki still has many supports. We certainly want be to behind him and we don’t want to ignore inputs from the people,” she added.

Nurul added another reason for supporting him is because Basuki was once Golkar cadre and he once worked with the party when he was still a member of Commission II of the House of Representatives before he was appointed as Jakarta Deputy Governor.

Nevertheless, Nurul said that the party is also still considering giving its supports for other candidates and said that several candidates have approached the party such as Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

ARIEF HIDAYAT