The relationship of the Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama with the ruling party PDI-P has not been good ever since the former decided to enter the 2017 gubernatorial election as an independent candidate with Heru Budi Hartono as his running mate. PDI-P seemed so crossed that they and their friends at the House of Representatives (DPR) planned to increase the minimum support threshold that independent candidates must pass with a revision of Law 8/2015. This move was obviously directed towards Ahok. But despite the friction, Ahok met with PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri in an event last night, and both were seen very friendly towards each other.
On Monday (March 23) evening, Ahok attended the launch of a new book about Megawati at the National Archive building, Jakarta. Also present in the event were Vice Governor of Jakarta Djarot Saiful Hidayat; Megawati’s daughter and the Coordinating Minister for Human Development & Culture Puan Maharani; the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli; former Vice President Boediono; Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung; Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo; Minister of Cooperative & Small-Medium Enterprises (KUKM) Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga; the President’s Chief of Staff Teten Masduki; PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto; the Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso; the former Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) AM Hendropriyono; the Vice Governor of East Java Saifullah Yusuf; and others.
Ahok came at the invitation of Megawati and PDI-P. Answering journalist’s question on why PDI-P invited Ahok to the event, Hasto said that the reason was professional. Hasto said that his party was able to put aside politics. Whatever the reason may be, we believe that the invitation shows that Ahok’s relationship with Megawati is not as bad some may think. For comparison, consider how Megawati treated Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Rini Mariani Soemarno. Both were completely ignored by Megawati, but not Ahok.
And not that Ahok was the first of the 10 individuals to whom Megawati gave a copy of her book on stage at the event. Recall that Ahok was also the first person to receive a piece of cake from Megawati at the latter’s birthday celebration earlier this year. One of the authors of the book, moreover, told the press that the first 10 to receive the a copy of the book from Megawati would be those considered close to the Fifth President of the Republic.
Megawati teased Ahok when delivering her speech at the event. She said, in a joking manner, that she was surprised to see Ahok in the event despite all the rumors of their strained relationship. “And I was bullied (because of those rumor),” Megawati said, to which the audience laughed. And then when opening the auction session, Megawati asked the audiences to give donation generously when buying the book. The attendees shouted Ahok’s name, suggesting the Governor to donate. Megawati responded to that in a lighthearted manner saying she would not dare ask for fear of being bullied. She then jokingly said, “Not now, later.” The auction collected Rp2 billion, and just as the auction closed, Megawati told the attendees, “Previously, I said later (to the demand that she asked Ahok to donate). So, we’ll see later on. Just wait for the date,” implying Ahok may approach PDI-P in the end.
After the event, Ahok confirmed that his relationship with Megawati remained amicable. He described his relationship with Megawati like brother and sister. “I’m not PDI-P’s guy, (but) I am Bu Mega’s man,” Ahok quipped. PDI-P admitted that there are those within the party who are angry and disappointed by Ahok’s decision to seek office as an independent. But Ahok still believes that his relationship with PDI-P remains good overall.
That being said, the book launch tell us that Megawati is in good terms with Ahok, and that the PDI-P matriarch could eventually order the party to support Ahok, or at the very least avoid sabotaging his candidacy. If it is indeed true that Ahok is still in good terms with Megawati, the former’s challengers should be wary.
By Haryanto Suharman
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