“My political career has actually ended. The majority of religious people have labelled me as someone who defamed religion”,
former Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, said during a speech at Roosseno Plaza, Kemang, Jakarta.
Despite the public’s overwhelming support for him, Ahok stated that he would not resume his career as a politician.
Ahok did not discuss the so-called group, however, he said that certain parties had blamed him for abusing the Islamic holy book – Quran – to prevent the public from voting for him in the 2017 gubernatorial election.
Ahok, who was declared guilty by the court, was imprisoned for two years from 2017 to 2019 in Mako Brimob Prison.
During the event, Ahok, who was accompanied by his wife, Puput, received an award for his hard work, creativity, and integrity for the public. Former deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat was also in attendance.
After his release from prison, Ahok said that he had received backlash from some people regarding his decision to divorce Veronica Tan and marry Puput Nastiti Devi.
“So, it ended. When I was at church, all people seem to look at me like I was a lost person,” the former governor added.
Source: Tempo
Image: Suara