Polls open in heated vote for Indonesian capital’s governor
February 14, 2017
Updated: February 14, 2017 6:26pm
Photo: Achmad Ibrahim, AP
Photo: Dita Alangkara, AP
Photo: Dita Alangkara, AP
Photo: Dita Alangkara, AP
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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Voting was underway in the election for governor of the Indonesian capital after a divisive months-long campaign in which the monumental problems facing Jakarta took a backseat to religious intolerance and racial bigotry.
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Religion and race, rather than the slew of problems that face a car-clogged and sinking Jakarta, have dominated the campaign and transformed the election into a high-stakes tussle between conservatives, who want Islam to be ascendant in politics and society, and moderates. Ahok’s chances appeared dashed after accusations of blasphemy led to criminal charges and his ongoing blasphemy trial but he has recently rebounded in opinion polls.
Typical of the formalities, a polling place in the Kalideres neighborhood of western Jakarta held a swearing-in ceremony for poll officials at 7 a.m. and voters began casting their ballots under a red and white tent about 15 minutes later. Each voter dips a finger in colorful ink, a tactic to prevent voter fraud.
A public holiday was declared for the voting and central Jakarta’s usually gridlocked roads were relatively empty. Police and soldiers were stationed at some polling places.
Hadiyul Umam, 40, a civil servant, said voting for Ahok would go against everything he believes in.
“As a Muslim, I believe that non-Muslims are not allowed to lead Muslims in this country, and personally, I do not like the way Ahok leads, which is not pro-poor people and his words were disrespectful and rude,” he said.
Ahok’s blasphemy trial and the ease with which hard-liners attracted crowds of several hundred thousand to protest against him in Jakarta have undermined Indonesia’s reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam and shaken the centrist government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Calls for Ahok to be killed and anti-Chinese sentiment were disturbing elements of the protests, one of which turned violent, with dozens injured and one person dying from the effects of tear gas.
Defeat for Ahok would also be a defeat for Indonesia’s moderate political and religious leaders and further embolden hard-liners, who say a non-Muslim should not lead Muslims. The governorship is also seen as a launching pad into national politics and possibly the presidency.
Ahok has been popular with many in Jakarta because of his drive to eliminate corruption from the city administration and his efforts to make the city more livable.
But brutal demolitions of some of the slum neighborhoods that are home to millions and ill-considered outspokenness on sensitive issues proved to be his Achilles’ heel. Opponents seized their moment last year when a video surfaced of Ahok telling voters they were being deceived if they believed a specific verse in the Quran prohibited Muslims from electing a non-Muslim as leader.
“I voted for Ahok because he is already showing results of real work and honesty,” said Sriyana Dewi as she left a polling booth with her 7-old-month son in a sling. “Jakarta is better under his administration. I don’t believe the two other candidates are better than him,” said the 32-year-old.
So-called “quick count” results compiled by researchers stationed at a sample of the 13,000 polling places will give a reliable indication of the election outcome within hours of the polls closing at 1 p.m.
It’s unlikely that any of the three candidates will get the 50 percent of votes required for an outright win.
That would lead to a runoff in April between the top two polling candidates. One scenario is that Ahok proceeds to the second election but is defeated by anti-Ahok voters uniting behind the remaining Muslim candidate.
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AP writer Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta contributed.
