Agus-Sylvi Volunteers Support Ahok-Djarot in Gubernatorial Election Runoff
Jakarta. Incumbent Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has expressed his appreciation to the supporters of former rival Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono for declaring their support for him in the second round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election on April 19.
Agus and running mate Sylviana Murni were eliminated in the first round on Feb. 15, when they only managed to attract 17 percent of the vote.
"We are thankful for the support, but what's more important is that we have the same perception. I have said to the volunteers that we, as civil servants, have to serve the people. We have the same vision. That's why I asked them [the volunteers' committee] to find struggling residents, the sick, and those in need of the Jakarta Smart Card," Ahok said on Monday (13/03).
"What makes us different is that we have carried out our duties. And I am still the governor, just currently non-active. Of course, we will work faster," he added.
Agus-Sylviana volunteers said they are supporting the incumbent pair because they have been proven to be firm, corruption free and capable of carrying out their duties.
These volunteers claim to have the approval of Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also Agus's father.
Meanwhile, Ahok's running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat said the declaration of support has broken previous assumption that all Agus-Sylvi supporters would shift their support to rival pair Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno.
"So, those who said Agus's supporters automatically support gubernatorial candidate number three [Anies-Sandiaga] turned out to be wrong. There are many who still support us," Djarot said on Saturday.
More than 200 Agus-Sylvi volunteers have turned up to support the incumbent pair.
They will interact with other Ahok-Djarot supporters to come up with a strategy to ensure that the incumbents win.
Ahok and Anies, a former education minister, will contest the second round of the election after no candidates gained an outright majority in the first round.
Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel and Facebook Live to find out more about the second round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
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