Hanura to show support for Ahok

JAKARTA. The Hanura Party looks set to throw its support behind Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's independent candidacy in the 2017 gubernatorial election, based on the incumbent's achievements in the capital.

The party would show its support despite Ahok's decision to run as an independent, Hanura's central executive board (DPP) chairwoman Miryam S. Haryani said. "We are preparing the momentum, we will announce it in one or two days," she said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday.

The party has observed Ahok's track record and achievements during his term as governor since taking over the post in 2014 from former governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who left to run in the presidential election.

Moreover, an internal survey conducted by Hanura also showed Ahok's high electability, Miryam said.

Separately, Hanura lawmaker Sariffudin Sudding said that the party acknowledged Ahok's good performance as governor.

The party wanted to support a candidate who dared to make a breakthrough and could act firmly in leading the city administration, he added. "I think he meets our expectations," he told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday, adding that the party would observe internal mechanisms before formally announcing its support for a potential candidate.

Another party member, Dadang Rusdiana, said Wiranto would make a formal announcement in the near future.

Several political parties have slammed Ahok's independent candidacy, deeming it an effort to weaken the existence of parties, but Hanura said it would proceed with its plan to support Ahok and was not clouded by that assumption.

The party wished not to make regional elections a competition between independent candidates and candidates backed by political parties, as both are allowed by the law. "Independent candidacy is an ordinary thing. As long as parties work for the public’s interest, their existence will not cease,” Dadang said.

Ahok said on Wednesday that he was convinced he would get support from Hanura as he had a good relationship with the party and it chairman Wiranto.

The Nasdem Party has also shown its support for Ahok's independent candidacy by assisting Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), a group of supporters that help Ahok by collecting copies of citizens' identity cards. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)