It’s going to be hard for the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to criticize Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for being a kafir (non-Muslim) Christian after this…
For Eid al-Adha yesterday, Ahok donated 30 sacrificial cows to the poor in honor of the Islamic holy day.
“These 30 cows come from Pak Ahok personally. Later [the meat will be given] to 6554 citizens living in 21 low-cost apartments in Jakarta,” said Ika Lestari Aji, head of the Jakarta Housing and Building Department, yesterday as quoted by Kompas.
Considering the current market value for a cow in Indonesia is about Rp 17-25 million, the governor probably paid about Rp 600 million to make his personal donation.
Some 485 packages of meat from Ahok’s cows will be distributed in Rusunawa Jatinegara, the low-cost apartments housing many of the former occupants of Kampung Pulo, a slum area that was torn down on Ahok’s orders despite some violent protests.
Ahok has often been protested by extremist groups such as FPI, often for the simple reason that he is not Muslim. He has also been criticized as being anti-Islam for pushing to ban the streetside sales of sacrificial animals before Idul Adha because the practice is illegal and unsanitary.
Ahok has often expressed his deep respect for Islam and Islamic values. He once said, “My friends say I’m more Islamic than some Muslims.”
