Jakarta – The Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has received numerous reports of illegal banners put up by the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), opposing the appointment of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta governor.

Ahok will assume president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's position as Jakarta governor when the latter leaves City Hall for the State Palace on Oct. 20.

The banners bear the message "Umat Islam Jakarta tolak Ahok jadi gubernur!!!" (Muslims of Jakarta reject Ahok as governor!!!). The banners were put up in Mampang in South Jakarta and near the City Hall in Central Jakarta.

Public Order Agency head Kukuh Hadi Santosa said he had ordered his officers to remove the banners. "The banners are not only illegal but they also [are offensive to minorities]. They must all be taken down by Friday night," Kukuh told reporters at the City Hall on Friday.

Previously, Ahok said that he was not concerned about resistance from hard-liners. "It's the FPI. They are always like that. I don't really care," he has said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/20/fpi-banners-opposing-ahok-erected-city.html