August 26, 2014 edition
JOURNALISTS covering Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, are aware that whatever he says can become headlines. No other public official has a way of saying things that make it eminently quotable.
But Ahok's direct and open way of talking is not to everyone's liking. He has made enemies, and he is bound to make many more following the Constitutional Court's verdict that rejected the appeal last week by also-rans Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa and reconfirmed the election of Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo as president and his running mate Jusuf Kalla as vice president. Automatically, this paves the way for Ahok to ascend to the capital city's top executive job.
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More Interview articles in other editions
August 19, 2014 edition
There has been discordant voices following the launch of the UNAIDS Gap Report on July 16, which details the prevalence of this deadly disease, and how governments attempt to prevent its spread. It was not particularly well received by Indonesian Health Minister, Nafsiah Mboi. "In the press release (about the report), they (UNAIDS) said that we are left behind. I ask, just how have we been left behind?" she told Tempo, at a press conference about Indonesia's HIV/AIDS program, 20 days after the report was launched
UNAIDS Country Director for Indonesia, Cho Kah Sin, agrees that the report could well lead to misinterpretations. "The GAP report is not meant to invalidate what countries are doing," explained Cho, who took office in Jakarta two years ago. He is impressed at the close cooperation between different community groups and the central as well as local governments in preventing the spread of the disease. "Other countries can learn from Indonesia," said Cho, who is Malaysian.
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August 12, 2014 edition
ASSORTED cakes lay on the table for guests at the home of Mahfud Md at Sambilegi, a district of Yogyakarata, during Lebaran week. The host, looking relaxed and clad in the traditional Muslim attire befitting the festivities, entered the living room and sat down on a sofa.
That evening, the former Constitutional Court chief justice and recently the campaign manager of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket, had just returned from paying his respects to Herry Zudianto, a fellow Gerindra campaign manager for Yogyakarta. At the home of Herry, a former Yogyakarta mayor, Mahfud was greeted by the crew of TV One, who proceeded to conduct an interview over the ongoing dispute on the results of the recently completed presidential election.
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August 5, 2014 edition
HUSNI Kamil Manik stared at the chess board in front of him, his brows wrinkling as he contemplated what to do with the black king, trapped by the white king and two of his pawns. "Look at this black king, he will definitely lose," he said. He picked up the black king and threw him out of the game.
Husni, the current commissioner of the General Elections Commission (KPU) is no stranger to pawns, rooks, ministers and kings, since his elementary school days. If there was no one to play with at home, he would play alone, learning by reading strategic tips published in newspapers. Playing chess has taught him to be cautious but also to be decisive at the same time, when contemplating important steps.
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January 1, 1970 edition
AINUN Najib's eyes were glued to the iPhone he held, occasionally moving his thumb on the screen, when Tempo met him at the lobby of a well-known hospital in Singapore, on Saturday last week. Ainun had been reluctant to give an interview, given the notoriety kawalpemilu.org, the site he created, had gotten in his home country, these past few weeks.
He had lain low the past two days, on information that a certain person claiming to work for the campaign of one of the presidential candidates was hunting for him. "I must lie low before July 22," Ainun told Tempo. That was the date the General Elections Commission (KPU) was scheduled to announce the official final tally of the presidential election. He was willing to be interviewed after he checked out the background of the Tempo reporter Mahardika Satria Hadi, whom he met in Singapore. "My apologies for having to cross-check you first," said Ainun. But when he did agree to speak about it, he spoke intensely and passionately about the election vote-count website he created overseas, together with two of his colleagues.
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January 1, 1970 edition
ROSARITA Niken Widiastuti did not immediately start speaking. She kept squeezing the tissue paper in her hand, as if plucking up the courage to open the conversation. "Look, let's not discuss threats," said Niken, the executive director of state-owned Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) broadcasting station. She was on her way to Aceh, to close the Qur'an Reading Contest, along with Minister of Administrative Reform Azwar Abubakar and Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah. "This is an annual affair of RRI," explained Niken.
She is very aware that her agency is under the public spotlight. RRI's quick count of the recent presidential polls seems to have triggered sharp debate. She now faces the prospect of being summoned by the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission on Information, whose chairman, Mahfudz Siddiq, maintains that RRI's quick count was not part of its mandate.
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July 15, 2014 edition