I will not protect Ahok, says Jokowi

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has stressed he will not protect incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and demanded a thorough investigation on him.

The president, better known as Jokowi said he had also instructed the republic's police chief, Tito Karnavian to conduct the investigations in a transparent manner so that it would not smack of prejudice.

"I will not protect brother Basuki Tjahaja Purnama because it is now entering a legal process," he was quoted by online media as saying after attending a meeting at the Muhammadiyah Missionary Centre office here today.

Jokowi said investigations into the governor, popularly known as Ahok, had already begun, and that all quarters must have faith in the authorities to do their job in a transparent manner.

Ahok will defend his governor's post by contesting under PDI-P party's ticket at the forthcoming regional head elections (or Pilkada, the Bahasa Indonesia acronym for the polls), to be held on Feb 20 next year.

Jokowi, who is also a member of the Megawati Soekarnoputri-led party, is said to be very close to Ahok.

In fact, Ahok was Jokowi's deputy when the latter was Jakarta governor.

Ahok, who will contest against Anies Baswedan and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono at the Pilkada, is the only non-Muslim candidate.

During an election campaign in Pulau Seribu last month, the man was reported to have urged the Muslim community not to be tricked into believing the Surah Al-Maidah verse in Al-Quran which prohibited Muslims from electing a non-Muslim as leader.

However, Ahok said he was a victim of slander because the video recording of his speech had been edited by certain people to make it look like he had insulted Islam.

Over 7.4 million people in Jakarta are eligible to vote to elect their governor and deputy at the Pilkada.-- BERNAMA