Former Jakarta Governor Basuki “BTP” Tjahaja Purnama has been the subject of many a gossip headline ever since he was released from prison last month, but it seems he’s had enough of the celebrity-esque limelight on his private life.
The man formerly known as Ahok yesterday posted a video on his Instagram account and Youtube channel in which he tried to clarify some rumors about his personal life, or, better yet, to get people to stop talking about it altogether.
In the video, BTP clarifies several rumors that have been going around and affecting his and his family’s lives, such as his relationship with ex-wife Veronica Tan post-divorce, the bond with his children, and his relationship with his fiancé Puput Nastiti Devi (who he refers to as “PND” in the video”).
“You need to know that my life at the moment does not have anything to do with my divorce in April 2018. I decided that I’ll give the harta gono-gini (wealth shared between spouses) to all my children. I also want the mother of my children [Veronica Tan] to live with them. Even though I have custody rights, when my children want to choose I give them freedom,” Ahok says in the clip.
BTP, who sounds increasingly serious as the video progresses, then touches on his relationship with PND.
“Regarding my relationship with PND and all the negative accusations from you, I hope you’re not speculating about my personal life, which is slanderous. Every measure I take, I confirm it with God, with my mother, and my aunts. Everything was my doing. If you want to blame someone, blame me instead,” BTP says sternly.
PND has been fodder for many gossip sites ever since she was rumored to be BTP’s fiancé. The fact that she’s tried to keep her life and her relationship with BTP private has probably only made tabloids gossip about her even more, as highlighted in this article discussing the supposedly exorbitant price of her handbag in contrast to BTP’s image as a staunchly anti-corrupt politician.
Since his release in January, after he finished serving out almost two years of his highly politicized blasphemy sentence, BTP has mostly kept himself out of the media limelight, preferring to keep his supporters updated about his life through his vlog on Youtube and other social media channels.
