"Rumors saying that I will abolish rice distribution for the poor and the teacher certification program are slander. In fact, if Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla pair wins, we will increase them," Jokowi said.
Cilegon, Banten (ANTARA News) - Presidential hopeful Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has clarified smear campaign against him when he met ulemas at Al-Khairiyah Islamic boarding school in Cilegon.

"Rumors saying that I will abolish rice distribution for the poor and the teacher certification program are slander. In fact, if Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla pair wins, we will increase them," Jokowi said here on Tuesday.

Jokowi had visited the boarding school to join in a breaking the fast gathering with local ulemas from Bantens cities such as Cilegon, Pandeglang, Lebak, Serang, and Tanggerang.

He also refuted rumors saying that he was the son of a Singaporean man. "How could I be from Singapore, might be from Singaparna," he said jokingly, adding that his parents were from Karang Anyar and Boyolali, Central Java.

He instructed his election supervisory personnel in Banten to closely monitor the polling process during the election on July 9, 2014.

"Do not allow any incidents to happen so that we receive 600 votes and not 60 votes after one zero is dropped," he said.

Jokowi was optimistic that he will win in Banten, given the enthusiastic welcome by the public in Banten.

From Banten, Jokowi will visit West Java for election campaign activities until July 3, 2014.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Jokowi Success Team said in a press statement earlier that Jokowis electability drop was likely due to smear campaigns attacking the presidential hopeful.

"Smear campaigns, intimidation, and information manipulation have influenced public perception," Tjahjo Kumolo, chairman of the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla (JK) Success Team, said.

As smear campaigns, such as those carried out by Obor Rakyat tabloid, were rampant, the gap in the electability rates of Jokowi and his rival, Prabowo Subianto, had narrowed down, he said.

Kumolo, however, noted that he believed the public will choose a modest and hardworking leader who did not use smear campaign methods.

Indonesia will organize presidential election on July 9, 2014, which will be contested by two pairs: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Jokowi-JK.

Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the founder of Gerindra (Great Indonesia Movement) Party, while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Jokowi is Jakartas governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), and his running mate, JK, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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