What else is former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama up to in prison, aside from learning Mandarin and kung fu? It seems he’s also using his time in captivity to reply to letters from his many loyal supporters.
One such letter, written by a 12-year-old named Allegra Freya Berlinawan, was posted online and has quickly gone viral, with netizens praising the young girl’s heartfelt support and wonderful words of encouragement for the imprisoned former governor.
Allegra Freya,12thn,mengirim surat utk pak @basuki_btp dan di bls
Cukup sepenggal kalimat “Saya baik-baik di sini” dari pak Ahok meghrukan pic.twitter.com/qWXb4j3DO9
— Ary Prasetyo (@Aryprasetyo85) June 5, 2017
Allegra’s letter reads:
Good people are like candles, they burn themselves up to give others light.
Thank you for answering my question about the lack of tourists in museums last year when i visited Balaikota. Thank you for transforming our beloved Jakarta into a better place.
I pray for your health, family, and spirit and i hope you and your loved ones can stay strong amidst the difficulties.
Jakarta The world needs more people like you!!
Allegra’s letter did not go unnoticed as Ahok actually took the time to reply to it. His reply, translated, reads:
Thank you for your letter. I hope you stay enthusiastic about dedicating yourself to the nation. I’m fine here. God blesses you and your family.
Fifi Letty Indra, Ahok’s sister and lawyer, confirmed that Ahok himself wrote the reply to Allegra’s letter. She said her brother has actually been busy replying to many such letters, and she encouraged his supporters to keep writing to Ahok for encouragement.
“To those who want to write letters (to Ahok), in order to get a quick reply, you can attach a stamped envelope to your letter,” Fifi said, as quoted by Kompas today.
Other than supporters offering their words of encouragement, Fifi said Ahok has also received many letters containing complaints about the city. When Ahok was governor, he often started his day by listening to citizens’ problems directly at City Hall.
Fifi mentioned that there are plans to eventually compile the letters sent to Ahok into a book.
