TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama remains as the strongest candidate to win the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, according to Riset Indonesia executive director Toto Sugiarto.


Toto added that Ahok has the highest number positive-toned news compared to his rivals Anies Baswedan and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

"The percentage of positive-toned news covering Ahok is 85 percent, above those of Anies and Agus at 80 percent and 72 percent, respectively," Toto said during the release research on the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election onFriday, October 14, 2016 in Jakarta.

Toto explained that news taken as samples for the research were related to responses of Jakarta residents to governor candidates published by ten online media between September 23 and October 13, 2016.

In terms of performance, Toto revealed, Ahok is above Anies and Agus.

"Anies and Agus have no experiences in leading an administration, and their achievements are unknown to public," Toto added.

Ahok, on the other hand, has an advantage of being incumbent and a positive trend in terms of performance. Toto added that public has no knowledge about Anies' achievements as the Education and Culture Minister and Agus' as a military officer.

However, Toto admitted that both Agus and Anies could have better image in terms of personality.

"Ahok has negative points, namely his temperamental behavior and a tendency to attack people in public," Toto said.

Philip J. Vermonte, senior researcher with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), viewed that the endorsement of government candidates should not be based on their performance and personality. Philip explained that voters' characteristics are divided into retrospective and prospective voters. According to Philip some voters put performance above personality.

Philip further explained that Anies' performance in education field was not apparent since education has been decentralized.

"However, based on a survey on public opinion, Anies' removal as the Education and Culture Minister was deplored by public," Toto said.