APMI Questions Police Report on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia Young Entrepreneurs Association (APMI) Chairman Sam Aliano went to the police headquarter to question the legal basis of the report made against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. He handed over a clarification letter to the police and asked for the reason following the issue.

"We want clarification regarding the legal basis of [the report]," said Sam on October 24. He said that he personally had no problem with the use of the word 'pribumi' (native Indonesian) mentioned by the Jakarta Governor in his inaugural speech.

Read: Anies Baswedan Explains His Controversial Pribumi Remark

Sam defended that Law No. 40/2008 on eradicating racial and ethnical discrimination violates the regulation issued by United Nations and International Day of the World's Indigenous. He is also puzzled by the public members who filed police reports against the governor for using the term.

"Was it a sin? Why was Pak Anies reported [to the police]?" said Sam who persisted that the word pribumi is the root of Indonesian culture and must not be forgotten.

Anies Baswedan had clarified that the use of the term pribumi mentioned in his inaugural speech was referred to the nation's colonial era. The speech delivered after his inauguration as Jakarta Governor sparked public debates since it is generally considered to be out of context and can potentially reclaim racism.

Andita Rahma

Source: APMI Questions Police Report on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan