THE Jakarta gubernatorial election has become tarnished even before the campaigning starts. A statement by incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) to Thousand Islands residents, managed to stir the racism issue on social media and on the streets.

Ahok meant no harm. In his speech, he said that he had no problem with Jakartans not voting for him for religious reasons. But because he quoted the surah Al-Maidah verse 51 from the Qur'an, some people