Jokowi: I Love Aceh and Acehnese People

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo or Jokowi recalled his memories in Aceh Province during his speech in an event People's Convention “Optimis Indonesia Maju” held in Sentul International Convention Center, Jakarta, Sunday evening, February 24.

Jokowi said that Aceh was his first destination place to seek a job after graduating from college. “I have my first job experience in Aceh. I love Aceh and its people,” he remarked.

The experience in Aceh, Jokowi added, attracted him to explore Indonesia’s diversity, and that is one of his foundations in managing the country. He admitted to having lived in Aceh for a short period.

Read also: Jokowi is Not Against Ulema, says NasDem Politician

“After there years in Aceh, I went back to Solo and started a small business,” he added.

Aceh is one of the regions where the incumbent candidate earned low electability rate. Based on recapitulation data issued by the General Election Commission (KPU), in the 2014 Presidential Election, Jokowi and his running mate Jusuf Kalla obtained 45.61 percent, while the opponent Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa bagged 54.93 percent of votes. Jokowi lost in 10 provinces in 2014.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin said that the trend of Jokowi`s electability rate increased in those ten provinces. “He leads in Banten and West Java, but still lack in West Sumatra,” said Cak Imin when met at Sentul.

DEWI NURITA