Jakarta – Several activist organizations have committed support to Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat to run in the 2017 gubernatorial election in January.

The '98 Activist Forum for Ahok, which includes former student activists from the 1998 reform movement, said the governor's leadership must continue.

"We believe that Ahok-Djarot are still capable of continuing the reform goals in Jakarta, which is to ensure the improving management of social, political, economic and cultural order in Jakarta," Iwan Sulaiman Soelasno, a former '98 activist, said in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/08).

The incumbent team has been tested in improving the city and Iwan believes they are the best bet to continue the programs. "Djarot Saiful Hidayat so far has proven his loyalty and professionalism as deputy governor on Ahok's side," Iwan added.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman Haikal, an activist from Pijar Indonesia, said the incumbent reelection would strong momentum for the city. The comprehensive improvements, according to Sulaiman, will be applied systematically in Jakarta's bureaucracy, public services, spatial management and administrational issues.

"Ahok-Djarot is capable of applying regional governance based on good-governance principles, as it becomes effective, efficient, transparent and accountable," he said.

Taufan Hunneman, an activist of Public Democracy Alliance (Aldera), agreed, saying Djarot is one of the strongest members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and it is time the party supported the pair.

"Ahok-Djarot is capable of guaranteeing a critical-but-harmonic partnership between Jakarta administration and its Regional Representatives Council [DPRD]. They will be perfect in achieving political consensus with DPRD to maintain political and development stability in Jakarta," Taufan said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/activists-endorse-ahok-djarot-ticket/