Earlier today, the Vice Governor of the Capital City of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama received a donation of 53 garbage trucks that was pledged by the Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneurs Association (PERPIT) in January this year. The handing over ceremony was done symbolically with 8 garbage trucks and a motor carriage on display at the City Hall drive way entrance.

The chairman of PERPIT Kiki Barki was present at the handing over ceremony. Governor Ahok interacted very cordially with Kiki Barki and other PERPIT members present. The Governor looked very pleased. He jokingly said in his speech that he had prayed that the 53 trucks would eventuate with a donation of 530 more gargabe trucks. Those known to have contributed to the donation are notable figures such as:

  • Kiki Barki himself (Chairman of PERPIT and founder of Harum Energy) — 3 trucks;
  • Alim Markus (Maspion Group) — 2 trucks;
  • Burhan Uray (Djajanti Group) — 1 truck;
  • Hendro Gondokusumo (Intiland) — 2 trucks;
  • Trihatma Haliman (Agung Podomoro) — 3 trucks;
  • Fadjar Suhendra (Growth Steel Group) — 1 truck.

As we’ve previously reported the PERPIT donation started with an impromptu call for contribution that Kiki Barki initiated at a Chinese New Year dinner event last January. In an auction style delivery, Kiki managed to stir those attending the dinner to contribute to the cause one by one. Vice Governor Ahok who was attending the event as a government invitee was shocked at the generosity of PERPIT members, and today he appears very much contented that the pledge made has been fulfilled by PERPIT.

Just two days ago, Governor Ahok also received a donation of two garbage trucks by PT Gaya Makmur Tractors. PT Gaya Makmur, however, donated the trucks as product samples for the Jakarta Government to try. The company previously approached the Jakarta Administration and delivered their sales pitch in a meeting with the Vice Governor. Ahok managed to persuade the representatives of PT Gaya Makmur to provide him with a sample of their product for trials. The Vice Governor scored two.

Before the donation from PT Gaya Makmur and PERPIT, Ahok received a donation of two garbage trucks from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO). The representative of TETO for Indonesia Mr Liang-Jen Chang met with the Vice Governor a few months back to explore the possibility of introducing Taiwan’s private sector players in the recycling and garbage collection business to the Jakarta Administration. The donation was the result of the meeting. Separately, the Indonesian Petroleum Association was also generous enough to donate 13 garbage trucks to the Jakarta Administration. Bank Mandiri too had the opportunity to donate 3 garbage trucks.

But things at the City Hall don’t always go as pleasantly as it may appear. For the past few days, the former head of the Jakarta Transportation Office (Dishub) Udar Pristono, who is now a suspect in a graft case surrounding the procurement of damaged Transjakarta buses, spoke to the media and complained about he had been abandoned by his superiors, i.e., Govenor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

Udar’s legal representatives have even gone on the offensive and attempted to link Jokowi to the case, suggesting the Governor knows more than he let out. Furthermore Udar’s legal representatives also threatened to file a lawsuit against Ahok for allegedly building a negative opinion on their client Udar Pristono. Ahok swiftly responded to the threat by saying, “Bring it on.”

By Yuventius Nicky

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