JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Spokesperson of Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Jusuf Kalla, Anies Baswedan, delivered a firm statement in a panel discussion held at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Tuesday (June 24) that Jokowi is not a puppet of PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as accused by Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa campaign team.

“Back in 2012, Tempo magazine published a cover showing a face of half Prabowo and half Jokowi. Jokowi was accused as Prabowo’s puppet, but look at how he is now? He’s now even (trying) to stop Prabowo to become a President,” Anies said answering to the question of Tantowi Yahya, Spokesperson of Prabowo-Hatta team.

Anies added that Jokowi had proven that he cannot be controlled by anyone.

Tantowi earlier asked Anies how he convinced people that Jokowi ‘s decision will not be influenced by Megawati should he become the President of the Republic.

The accusations against Jokowi as Megawati’s puppet and as well as the puppet of business groups and foreign interests continue flowing, especially in social medias, during the campaign period of July 9 presidential election.

Latest, Prabowo himself, in a speech to his supporters attending a campaign rally at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, repeated his allegation that his rival, Jokowi, is merely a puppet. Prabowo then asked his supporters whether or not they want to be led by a puppet. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)