Ahok and Anies in Tight Election Race: Poll
Jakarta. Incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his opponent Anies Baswedan are neck and neck in the capital's gubernatorial race, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday (12/04), a week ahead of election day.
The race, which has been among the most divisive in the city's history, has been marred by religious and ethnic tension over the blasphemy trial of Ahok, who is accused of insulting Islam.
Ahok collected 46.9 percent of the sample vote, trailing Anies by a single percentage point in one of the first opinion polls published since the two candidates made it through a first round election in mid-February.
A candidate needs a simple majority to win.
Pollster Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) said the survey of 800 respondents showed Anies enjoyed support primarily because of his Islamic faith, while Ahok was popular due to his record in office.
Nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 250 million people are Muslims, but the country recognizes six religions and is home to sizable communities of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and those adhering to traditional beliefs.
The state ideology, Pancasila, enshrines religious diversity in an officially secular system.
Ahok, who is Jakarta's second ethnic Chinese and Christian governor, offended Muslim groups when he made comments last year about his opponents' use of the Koran in political campaigning. Henk Ngantung, a Chinese Christian painter, held the office briefly in the 1960s.
Since then, Muslims, led by hardline groups, have held mass rallies to call for Purnama to be sacked, and to urge voters not to elect a non-Muslim. The rallies have raised concerns about growing religious intolerance in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Ahok has apologized for his comments and denied any wrongdoing. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty.
Judges hearing the case decided this week to adjourn the trial until after voting day, after police and prosecutors asked for a delay because of security concerns.
Reuters
Tags: Keywords: