Surakarta – Vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka has apologized following controversy over the distribution of free books with a cover bearing the face of his son and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's grandson, four-year-old Jan Ethes Srinarendra.
Gibran, who currently serves as mayor of Surakarta, Central Java, said the distribution of the book had been going on for the past four years, long before he ran as vice president in the Feb. 14 presidential election.
"I apologize if the activity has created problems. But the book has been in print for the past four years," Gibran was quoted by Kompas as saying.
Late last week, Gibran made a stop at a primary school in Surabaya, East java, to hand out free milk, books and key chains to students attending the school.
Gibran made the stop after holding a meeting with East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa at her private residence. Khofifah is expected to seek a second term in the this year's regional head election.
Gibran's visit to the school made headlines, particularly after local media outlets pointed out that the books and key chains distributed during the event bore his son's face.
Jan Ethes, Gibran's first son from his marriage to Selvi Ananda, has been deemed as Jokowi's favorite grandchild and has prominently featured in the President's social media campaign in the past few years.