Ridwan Kamil Responds to Rejection by Jakmania, North Jakarta Residents
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6 September 2024 11:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prospective Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil, known as RK, responded to the rejection of support from a group of North Jakarta residents and the Jakmania, fans of the Persija Jakarta soccer club, ahead of the 2024 Jakarta Regional Election.
The former governor of West Java acknowledged that he welcomes all opinions and believes that respecting diverse viewpoints is essential in a democratic society.
“There’s no problem. I was there at an invitation. If I was rejected, I wouldn’t stand at the podium. There were also supporters. That’s the beauty of democracy,” RK said in Jakarta on Thursday, September 5.
He emphasized that expressions of support can take various forms, including gestures, verbal affirmations, and visual displays. He noted that he has experience handling such situations from his previous involvement in regional elections.
“I’ve experienced two regional elections. So I’m okay with it. I accepted it with an open heart. Thank you for the expression,” RK added.
Regarding the rejection from Jakmania, the Golkar Party politician reiterated his desire to connect with the group and his commitment to serving Jakarta if elected. However, he expressed understanding if Jakmania has not yet accepted his candidacy. He acknowledged that as a newcomer to Jakarta, he is currently focused on learning about the city's needs and aspirations.
“If there’s an opportunity, I will definitely meet [Jakmania]. It (the meeting) is not designed as a special [occasion]. Everyone I meet is a source of learning as a gubernatorial candidate,” RK said.
Ridwan Kamil is running for Jakarta Governor alongside Suswono as a prospective deputy governor. The pair is supported by the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) Plus. They will compete with two other candidate pairs, Pramono Anung-Rano Karno and Dharma Pongrekun-Kun Wardana, in the 2024 Jakarta Election.
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