Mega’s Advice for Jokowi-Ahok
Monday, 30 April, 2012 | 14:46 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:A dialog between Jakarta governor and deputy-governor candidates Jokowi and Ahok and their supporters was held at the National Library in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri attended the event. Addressing supporters, Megawati explained why the party supported Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, as a gubernatorial candidate and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok as deputy governor candidate for the upcoming Jakarta elections.

Megawati added that Jokowi was initially supported by the PDI-P as the Solo mayor, together with FX Hady Rudyatmo, chairman of the Surakarta branch of the PDI-P. At that time, Megawati said that Rudy was the one who had proposed Jokowi’s name.

“I said at that time, Rudy looks like a tough guy,” Mega recalled. “When Jokowi showed up, he looked so skinny. ‘What can he do?’ I asked Rudy. [Rudy] told me, ‘You’ll find out.’”

Mega said that Jokowi left Solo with an outstanding record. However, she said that many people doubted him. Going in and out of villages is not too impressive,” said Megawati. However, Megawati said she was optimistic that with commitment and Jokowi’s success in Solo, the candidate would be elected in Jakarta.

WDA