Despite the fact that he is Christian, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has shown a great deal of support for Jakarta’s Islamic communities and as well as a deep personal knowledge and understanding of Islam himself. He once said, “My friends say I’m more Islamic than some Muslims.”
Ahok said he is Islamic in the sense that he is honest, hardworking and disciplined, all values that are central to Muslim faith. It is in that same sense that he made a similar statement today, while talking about a new Islamic Center the city government was planning on building next year.
“I think the Indonesian people are more Islamic than (Arabs), so we really want to develop it with this new Islamic Centre,” Ahok said today as quoted by Okezone.
According to Ahok, the reason Indonesian Islam is better is because it is reinforced by Eastern cultural values of mutual respect and dignity.
Ahok said the Islamic Center initiative was inspired by the work of Muslims in China who work hard to develop Islamic teachings within their own country.
