Jakarta – The Research and Development Department (Litbang) of Kompas has released its survey on public preference of the gubernatorial election, placing gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono first, followed by incumbent Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and candidate Anies Baswedan.
According to the survey, which was conducted from Dec. 7 to 15, Agus received a 37.1 percent electability rate, Ahok 33 percent while Anies came in with 19.5 percent.
The survey, which was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 800 respondents living in five mayoralties and a regency in Jakarta, stated that 10.4 percent of respondents have not decided on a candidate, kompas.com reported on Wednesday.
Kompas said that Ahok, paired with incumbent Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, placed second despite their popularity because of the controversy surrounding the pair.
The poll revealed that about 51.5 percent of respondents admitted that they would not elect Ahok because of his communication style and the current legal case implicating the governor.
Ahok is being tried at the North Jakarta District Court for blasphemy due to his statement on a verse in the Quran in Thousand Islands regency in September. (jun)