JAKARTA. The founder of the Crescent and Star Party, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said Sunday he supported Jakarta Govenor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s right to continue running in the gubernatorial election in February next year.

Yusril, who was previously Ahok’s political adversary when he sought to join the race earlier this year, said he and Ahok were from the same hometown, Belitung Island, in Bangka Belitung province, and he considered Ahok to be his brother.  

“I support his desire to continue in the race. Even though he is a suspect, he should still be allowed to contest the election,” he said on Sunday at the Indonesian Miniature Park (TMII) in East Jakarta during the Bangka Belitung Customary Art and Culture Festival.

During the event, Ahok apologized for his remarks once again, saying that as someone from Belitung who had lived side by side with people of diverse religious backgrounds, there was no way he would insult Islam.

“Even though we have some differences, the differences do not reduce the brotherhood between those who share the same hometown,” Yusril said as quoted by kompas.com.

During the event, Ahok and Yusril were seen sitting next to each other. They also talked with each other throughout the festival at TMII’s Bangka Belitung House.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie