Acting Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama would resign from his post if Gerindra politician Muhammad Taufik became the Governor of Jakarta. Ahok refuses to work with Taufik, especially if he had to be Taufik’s vice governor.
“If he becomes governor and I’m vice governor? I might as well quit. Why should I? Might as well go home [to Belitung],” he said at the Jakarta City Hall today.
The two men have different interpretations of the law regarding who should fill the vacant post of governor. While Ahok (and most government officials) believes the vice governor should automatically step up, Muhammad Taufik and Gerindra believe the new governor has to be picked by the Jakarta City Council.
“If his [Taufik’s] interpretation was correct and he becomes governor, why should I be his vice governor? My interpretation of the law is, the vice governor automatically succeeds the governor,” said Ahok.
Previously, Taufik, who is the vice chairman of the Jakarta City Council, said on Tuesday that Ahok might not be elected as the Governor of Jakarta, even though he is now acting governor.
President Jokowi might be fighting his own battles at the moment, but he should really step in to soothe the political bickering over Jakarta’s hot seat.
Source: Merdeka.com
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