Unusual visit by residents living outside Jakarta is set to be held during the second legof Jakarta Election on April 19. The visit is titled 'Tamasya Almaidah' (Al-Maidah Trip) referring to a Quranic verse saying that one should not choose infidels as a leader and also the verse that brought Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama into a long legal battle until now and is intendedto oversee the voting process.
Participants have to follow the dresscode: men wearing white shirt and black kopiah, and women wearing dark colored long dress and hijab.
Jakarta Victory Movement (Gema), the movement's initiator, said that the main purpose of this Al-Maidah Trip is to showwhat a healthy democracy is. Therefore, the organization invites Muslims to monitor the course of the election.
"The main purpose is to provide some kind of comparative study to monitorthe election," said Jakarta Gema Vice Chairman Farid Poniman to Metrotvnews.com on Thursday.
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Photo: Facebook/Bela Quran
Despite the trip's name, Farid denied that the event is meant to intimidate voters or intervene the voting process.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Jakarta Police, Brig. Gen. Suntana urged people not to participate the event. The police will not forbit anyone to come to poling stations as long as they follow the rules, but they will not allow any intervention either.
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"The police will be deployed to prevent manipulation, so we confirm that the event is unnecessary," said Suntana, Tuesday. "If anyone is caughtprovocating or intimidating others, we will not allow that. We have the authority (to act)."
Previously, Tamasya Al-Maidah opened aregistration stand during Ahok's blasphemy trial in front of Agriculture Ministry Building, South Jakarta on Tuesday. They also have launched with a mobile applicationcalled "Tamasya Almaidah" on Google App Store so people can register online.
Photo: brilio.net