Ahok's Sister Refuses to Comment on Ma'ruf Amin's Apology

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fify Lety, a sister of the former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok, responded to a video of the vice presidential hopeful Ma'ruf Amin that went viral on social media. In the viral video which sparked controversy, Ma'ruf expressed his regret and apologized for taking part in putting Ahok in jail.

Fifi said many people questioned her family’s opinion in light of the video. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I let everyone with their own opinion. I don’t want to look back anymore,” said Fifi as noted in her Instagram account @fifiletytjahajapurnama, Wednesday, January 9.

The 48-second video footage was part of an interview session of Ma'ruf Amin with a mainstream media. “Yes, of course [I regret it]. But I was forced to do so. Who wants to jail other people? No one. But, I was forced to. The situation at that time was legal enforcement. So, what can I do? Even though after that I made an apology because I did not want to harm anyone. I don’t want to,” said Ma'ruf in the video.

Ma'ruf’s son, Ahmad Syauqi, said his father’s statement in the video aimed at clearing Ma'ruf’s position as the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) when giving testimony during the trial.

“The main point of Abah's (Ma'ruf Amin) statement is [that the matter was] not his personal desire but legal enforcement, and that is not a personal hatred feeling. That means, during Ahok’s case at that time, the law must be enforced due to the violation, not the personal,” said Ahmad Syauqi when Tempo contacted on Friday, January 4.

Ahok sentenced to 2-year imprisonment since May 9, 2017, after the panel of judges found him guilty of committing a religious blasphemy during his speech in Seribu Island in 2016. Ahok’s attorney, Teguh Samudera, estimated his client would be free in January 2019.

DEWI NURITA