TEMPO.CO, Pangkalpinang - Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, lost his position as the Governor of Jakarta to Anies Baswedan during Jakarta's Gubernatorial Election on April 19, 2017. Ahok's defeat has gained the attention of a number of figures from Belitung, the place where Ahok served as Regent back in 2007.
Belitung local figures said that Ahok does not need to come back to Belitung following his defeat.
One of Belitung's prominent figure Mochtar Motong, locally known as Tare, stated that Ahok could still be involved in the national political stage.
"[Ahok] doesn't need to come back home for a career in the local scope of Bangka Belitung. It would be his loss if he does that. I think he is a national asset that has sparked a political dynamic. Ahok still has the chance to have a career as a minister, ambassador, House of Representative member, or even at the Regional Representative Council," Tare said on Thursday, April 20, 2017.
Tare said that the people of Belitung island and Bangka argued that Ahok had already achieved so much throughout his career as a governor of Jakarta. Although the plurality of religion, race, and inter-groups could not be handled by him, which is arguably the main reason why he lost in the election.
"The blasphemy case that Ahok faces has also influenced the result. Especially considering the concern from minority groups who fears that the 1998 riot incident would repeat if he had won. But in the end winning and losing is normal, especially since Ahok has already attempted many efforts to win," Tare said.
Tare added that continued to say that Ahok's political career in the future will depend on the result of the blasphemy trial. If Ahok is freed from all charges, he would have a national scale political career. However, Tare asserted that it would hamper his chances if the court decided that he is guilty in the trial.
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