Jokowi Becomes Target of Rivals: Observer

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Political observer Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia said efforts were being made to tarnish the name of presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through an alleged corruption case in the procurement of Transjakarta buses.

"There are political games behind the formation of the public opinion that Joko Widodo, who is running for president in the upcoming presidential elections, is involved in the corruption case," Sanit stated here on Saturday.

He noted that efforts were being made to attack Jokowi through black campaigns. These efforts to tarnish the candidates good name became clear when Attorney General Basrief Arief pointed out that Jokowi was not involved in the Transjakarta bus procurement corruption case, adopting a firm stance that Sanit strongly praised.

So far, he added, a handful of people have been trying to drag Jokowis name into the Transjakarta corruption case, including Udar Pristono, former head of Jakartas Transportation Service, who is now a suspect in this case.

Sanit believed that Pristono was trying to drag in the name of Jokowi because he intended to sabotage the career of his former boss, who is now contesting the coming July 9 presidential elections.

On the other hand, Pristono is also being used by Jokowis political rivals to create a disadvantage for Jokowi as a presidential hopeful supported by four political parties.

"It is evident that some parties have tried to do this (damage Jokowis chances), and they could be successful because the competition in the run-up to the elections is getting increasingly tighter," Sanit argued.

Sanit called on Jokowis political rivals to stop launching black campaigns, including through the Transjakarta bus corruption case.

"Political competition in the run-up to the presidential elections should be won through healthy means and in a respectable manner," he asserted. (WDY)