TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno have emerged as the only Jakarta gubernatorial candidate duo which has promised to halt the Jakarta Bay reclamation project if elected.

"We are the only candidate pair seeking to stop the reclamation," Sandiaga Uno told fishermen from the Seribu Islands at the candidates campaign post on Thursday.

Uno expressed his gratitude to fishermen who support him and Baswedan.

"Thanks for your which strengthens our ranks. We will intensify programs for renewable energy, water, waste management and tourism industry, including resorts and restaurants. (We will) establish cooperation with Mme Susi (Pudjiastuti, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) to protect the ecosystem on the Seribu Islands," Sandiaga assured.

Safrudin, a local fisherman, said he found the vision and mission of Anies-Sandi good for fishermen.

"I see the vision and mission of Mr Sandi as being pro-fishermen. Ahok did not have a dialogue and, in fact, caused eviction (of fishermen). Reclamation project poses problems for the islands inhabitants," he noted.

Ahok, as the incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is popularly known, has been pushing for the implementation of the reclamation project in Jakarta Bay.

The gubernatorial election in Jakarta is considered a barometer of other regional head elections (pilkada) to be held simultaneously in 101 regions across Indonesia on February 15, 2017.

Therefore, the three pairs of Jakarta gubernatorial candidates were requested to sign a peace declaration inscription to symbolize their commitment to maintaining security and order during their campaign that began on October 28, 2016 and will end on February 11, 2017.

The candidates who signed the inscription were Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni, incumbents Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat, and Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno. Their supporters also joined the campaign.

ANTARA