Ahok Votes for the 2019 Indonesia Election in Osaka

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Through his Instagram account, former Governor of Jakarta Basuki “BTP” Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, announced that he had cast his vote in the 2019 general elections at Osaka, Japan, on Sunday, April 14.

The image BTP posted shows him wearing a white shirt lifting his right hand while showing his finger that has been dipped in ink, which is one of the election’s requirements.

“I just finished giving my vote for the 2019 General Elections (Pemilu) in Osaka, Japan. Let’s vote, and don’t abstain,” the caption beneath the post said.

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There was an interesting story that accompanied his participation there that was later confirmed by BTP’s expert staff Ima Mahdiah. She said that BTP felt he was being a being mislead by an alleged local voting ballot committee member who did not allow him to vote for the lack of necessary requirements.

“I was almost duped by someone just now. I wasn’t allowed to queue despite having already listed in the DPT (final voters list),” said BTP in a video he posted.

This caused him to slightly lash out on the person who tried to stop him from voting, said Ima, even though BTP openly committed to tone down his temper after being released from prison.

The voting session in Japan for the 2019 general election was held in April 14, with votes being counted in parallel to the voting day in Indonesia on April 17. The overseas voting sessions were held from April 8 up to April 14, with vote counting on April 17.

IQBAL TAWAKAL LAZUARDI (CONTRIBUTOR)