TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the wildly popular presidential hopeful from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle [PDI-P], said he would like to thank all the groups supporting him to become the capital’s governor.
“All played their own roles, the people played their roles, the volunteers played their roles,” the governor said on Thursday, March 27, 2014.
Jokowi, however, said PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri was the figure he thanked the most. “I have to say this, because PDI-P was the one bringing me to Jakarta, and PDI-P chair [Megawati] was the one nominating me [as governor],” he said.
Jokowi admitted his victory in Jakarta’s gubernatorial race was attributable to the support of multiple parties, including the people of Jakarta, volunteers, sympathizers, and political parties—including Prabowo and his Great Indonesia Movement [Gerindra].
When asked about wheter he would like to thank Prabowo and other prominent figures who backed him in the gubernatorial elections, Jokowi said, “Of course, I don’t have any problem doing that. I would like to thank Prabowo, volunteers, Jusuf Kalla, Ahok, all of them,” he said.
Earlier reports said Gerindra chief patron Prabowo told reporters in an interview that he was dissapointed at the govenor for failing to thank him after the latter won the elections.
“He never thanked me. Is that an appropriate attitude from the ethical viewpoint? Unlike Ahok, who immediately called me after he knew he had won, and so did Ridwan Kamil [the Bandung Mayor],” the Gerindra’s presidential contender said.
REZA ADITYA
