Ahok insists on attending park opening amid objections

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama speaks at an event in Central Jakarta on June 29.(kompas.com/Kurnia Sari Aziza)

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Tuesday insisted attending the officiation of the integrated child-friendly public space (RPTRA) park in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, amid warning from East Jakarta Mayor Bambang Musyawardana about objections from certain residents.
“The mayor has warned me not to come because the situation is not conducive. But I think if they don’t like me, they just don’t reelect me on Feb. 15, 2017. It will be more civilized rejection,” Ahok said in his opening remarks of the new public spaces in Cipinang Besar Selatan subdistrict.
During the event, there was no indication of objection to Ahok’s presence. But hundreds of joint security forces from the Jakarta Police and Jakarta Public Order Agency’s personnel were deployed to guard the surrounding area.
Beritajakarta.com, a news portal run by the city administration, reported that some 400 security personnel guarded the event.
The development of the RPTRA, which is a park with various facilities, is funded from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) contribution of PT Agung Podomoro Land, a developer of the reclamation project in the Jakarta Bay.
Ahok said the rejection was an action of thuggery. ”Don’t let the country be defeated by thugs. We have to think soundly,”