Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – The public gave a positive response to Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's decision to leave the Gerindra Party after the the party's Red-and-White Coalition insisted on going ahead with the controversial local election bill.
The bill, which is still being deliberated by the House of Representatives' Commission II on domestic governance, aims to return the election of local heads to the Regional Legislative Councils (DPDs).
In a move to defend direct elections, Ahok on Wednesday submitted his resignation letter to Gerindra's central executive board.
East Jakarta resident Januar Kuwado said he supported the deputy governor's decision to dissociate himself from Gerindra.
"Ahok is known as a democrat and what Gerindra is fighting for contradicts his principles. Moreover, Gerindra – which supported Ahok – won the gubernatorial election in 2012 in a direct election, so the party should be consistent," he said.
Januar was upbeat that Ahok's move would not harm his performance as the soon-to-be governor. Ahok will replace Governor Joko Widodo, who will be inaugurated as Indonesia's seventh president in October.
"If Ahok's programs aim to improve the people's welfare and the council does not support it, then we know who the real bad guy is. Voters are smarter now," he said.
Another resident, Halimah, shared this sentiment. "I think it's Gerindra's loss, not Ahok's. As a voter, I root for direct elections so of course I support Ahok's decision," she said.
Meanwhile, Charta Politika political analyst Yunarto Wijaya said Ahok's move should be seen as a lesson learned by Gerindra and other political parties.
"It's been a common understanding that political parties in Indonesia are mostly authoritarian, exclusive in their decision making and feudal. Ahok is the evidence – parties should have asked for the opinions of regional heads before drafting the bill because they understand the challenges. Ahok's bold move can also be a signal for other regional heads to not yield easily to the council's pressure," he told The Jakarta Post.
Yunarto added that Ahok's resignation would instead affect Gerindra more than Ahok. "Gerindra is digging its own grave. The party has used Ahok to establish an image as a reformist party but this development is a setback," he said.
Further, he suggested that Ahok should remain independent until the end of his tenure "unless his name is touted as a potential candidate in the 2019 presidential election."
A fierce reaction came from Ahok's colleagues in Gerindra. Gerindra Jakarta chapter chairman M. Taufik lamented Ahok's move, calling him ungrateful.
"Ahok was nobody before Gerindra touted him as the deputy governor candidate in 2012. Even Belitung residents didn't really know him. He should be thankful for Gerindra and not the other way around," he said.
"Gerindra will be fine without Ahok. The party has become this big because of [chief patron] Prabowo [Subianto], not Ahok."
Meanwhile, newly-inaugurated councilor Prasetio Edi Marsudi of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) was upbeat that the council would get along with Ahok' administration.
"The presidential election is over. There should be no more talk of 'Indonesia Hebat' or the 'Red-and-White Coalition'. I assure you that 106 newly-inaugurated councilors will work together to solve the capital's problems," he told reporters. "We will say Ahok is right if he's right and wrong if otherwise."
From 106 seats at the City Council, PDI-P garners the most with 28 seats, followed by Gerindra with 15.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/11/public-supports-ahok-s-departure-gerindra.html