TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that he no longer serves as Jakarta Governor after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a presidential decree that dismisses him as a regional head. In a meeting between Jokowi and members of community institutions, Jokowi apologized that he did not yet manage to address the Capital’s problems during his two-year term.
"I'm just an ordinary man with a lot of weaknesses and a few strengths," Jokowi said on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.
However, Jokowi promised that he would help with the Capital's development and structuring during his term as a president, because the central government is also responsible for addressing issues in Jakarta. In addition, he called on Jakarta citizens to support Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as the new governor.
"I'm calling on residents to support Ahok. Of course, the central government will also support [Ahok]," Jokowi said.
As a soon-to-be-inaugurated president, Jokowi asserted that he would not neglect Jakarta and targeted the Capital’s development to catch up with other major cities in the world.
DIMAS SIREGAR