Anies Baswedan Harshly Criticized; Jakarta DPRD Deputy Speaker Responds

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) Deputy Speaker Zita Anjani, claimed that she was not surprised to see political elites verbally attacked Governor Anies Baswedan. She said that the current benchmark of democracy in the capital city is to triumph over the other party, instead of giving value to the people.

"I'm not surprised when I see political party elites attack the governor without arguments, data, and ethics," Zita said in a written statement on Friday, September 24, 2021.

Zita said the former Minister of Education and Culture had done many achievements thus far, including COVID-19 vaccinations.

The achievements, she added, were recognized at the national and international levels. "People are not blind, cannot be fooled anymore, influenced by baseless opinions. We all can know which parties talk a lot and which parties work," she said.

Zita underlined that it was not wrong to slam Anies as she is one of the critics when something goes wrong. However, she added, criticism should be voiced based on data, facts, and ethical arguments. "As an elite, we should set a good example for the public," Zita added.

Anies Baswedan was recently criticized by Giring Ganesha, the acting general chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party's (PSI) central executive board. He even called the governor a liar who pretended to care about the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

ADAM PRIREZA | LANI DIANA