JAKARTA. A politician from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has urged political parties to think twice before endorsing Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in his bid for reelection next year on claims of him being disloyal to political parties and his volunteer group.

"Not just the PDI-P, but the political parties that have thrown support behind him must reconsider unless they want to be Ahok's victim," PDI-P politician Andreas Pareira said on Saturday.

Andreas went on to list Ahok's stints in political parties.

Ahok was a member of the New Indonesia Party (PIB) when running for East Belitung regent in 2005. In 2009, he joined the Golkar Party to run as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, but left it in 2012 to run for Jakarta deputy governor with the Gerindra Party.

Ahok reportedly left Gerindra in 2014 in protest of the party’s move to support reinstating indirect elections for local heads. The Jakarta governor decided in July to go the political party route in his bid for reelection despite the efforts of his volunteer group Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) to collect over 1 million vote pledges to secure his candidacy on an independent ticket. Ahok has secured support from the Golkar Party,  the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party.  

Ahok is also eyeing support from the PDI-P to strengthen his candidacy.

“Ahok has pit Djarot against the PDI-P by boasting about his support from Megawati. He is now using the devide et impera tactic. With his bad track record and tricky political style, political parties must be careful when deciding whether to back Ahok,” Andreas said referring to Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie