TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the wildly popular presidential contender of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has played down the call from Mohamad Sanusi, a member of the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD DKI Jakarta) from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) faction, that he resign from his post.
“That’s my business. That’s my business,” he said at the City Hall on Monday, April 7, 2014.
Jokowi said he had yet to decide on whether he resigned from his post or took a leave to vie in the presidential race. “That’s my decision whether I resign, stop, become non-active, those can wait. Everything is still being scrutinized under the law and constitution,” he said.
Despite the demand for his resignation from the Gerindra faction of the DPRD, the governor said his relationship with Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Gerindra cadre, was well. The former Solo mayor said the request did not affect his deputy's performance in executing his daily duties. “I meet him everyday, meet him in meetings, do jobs everyday. There’s no problem,” Jokowi said.
Jokowi said he would discuss about whether he should resign or take a leave from his post with Ahok at the right time. But this discussion, he added, would not take place in the near future. “When the time is right, we will talk. Governor and deputy governor,” he said.
Gerindra’s Mohamad Sanusi has demanded the Jakarta governor step down following PDI-P’s announcement that Jokowi would run for president on its ticket. He claimed Jokowi’s status as a presidential hopeful would make him unfocused in carrying out his gubernatorial routines and that handing over his duties to his deputy simply would not work.
Sanusi also said Jokowi’s not resigning would also spark perceptions that the governor was abusing his authority for his presidential campaign.
ANANDA TERESIA
