Ahok’s candidacy alone has triggered a surge of conservative opinions that have gained traction among the elites and grassroots. The run-up to the election has also seen the proliferation of emotive discourse.
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It will be interesting to see if Jakarta’s voters would repeat the earlier success of two other democracies, the US (with President Obama) and the UK (with London Mayor Sadiq Khan), to install a member of minority at the leadership level.įor this to happen, voters must rise above polarising rhetoric and demonstrate open-mindedness and tolerance. The result will reveal whether citizens of Indonesia’s capital city have reconciled the concept of democracy and their basic identities, such as ethnicity and religion.
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There are also a few reasons why this contest is worth the attention of observers from afar.įor one, the Jakarta election is a timely trial for the country’s young democratic system. The above points should explain why the Jakarta election is such an enthralling force for the domestic audience, regardless of their political orientation. Voters are increasingly fascinated by the election as they struggle with whether they should vote for someone with a different identity. The possibility of Ahok, Chinese by ethnicity and Protestant by religion, being elected as governor has piqued the interest of many Indonesians unaccustomed to having a member of the minority in Jakarta’s top seat. Third, the election raises the issue of governance by a representative of the minority. The public has jumped onto this story because it serves as a pseudo-prophecy of the country’s future, while forgetting that Jokowi’s case was an extraordinary one that is statistically unlikely to be repeated by anyone anytime soon. The expectation of a parallel phenomenon is bolstered by preconceived ideas that each candidate has the political aim and chance to repeat Jokowi’s achievement, in the 2019 presidential election. Second, Joko Widodo’s rapid ascent from governor of Jakarta to president of the republic has created hype and expectation of a similar political trajectory for the winner of the election. The colourful characters of these individuals and their methods of communication will continue to draw public attention and prove instrumental in deciding the election’s outcome. While Agus lacks experience in politics, he greatly benefits from his father’s (former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) political backing, excellent track record in the army and intelligence. Incumbent Ahok is known for his vocal and seemingly harsh demeanour, but has proven himself a highly effective leader and reformer.Īnies is the former minister of education and culture who has charmed the youth, as well as the religious and the educated communities, with his intellect and refined manner.
These are Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat (Djarot) Anies Baswedan (Anies) and Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (Sandi Uno), and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (Agus) and Sylviana Murni (Sylvia). Three pairs of star-studded hopefuls have been officially registered to compete over the next four or five months. Several factors account for this inflated interest.įirst, the Jakarta election is especially popular because of the personalities involved. However, disproportionate nation-wide attention seems to have been focused only on the election in Jakarta. Last year, the republic passed Law Number 8/2015 regulating the conduct of gubernatorial elections for seven provinces, including the Special Capital Region of Jakarta on Feb 15 2017, as a step towards standardising regional elections in Indonesia. Much of that has been due to Indonesia’s preoccupation with domestic politics. Even the destruction of Malaysian fishing boats and the annual haze failed to ignite sparks between the two countries. Malaysia-Indonesia ties have been on a quiet, even keel for most of this year.
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