Bawaslu Summons Suswono Again After Being Absent Due to Joke About Rich Widow Marrying Unemployed Young Man

Jakarta Cawagub Suswono/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has again summoned the candidate for Deputy Governor of Jakarta number 1, Suswono today, after he did not attend the first summons on November 6.

Suswono was summoned to be asked for clarification regarding his joke statement suggesting a rich widow marry an unemployed young man and linking it to the story of the Prophet Muhammad.

"The summons was again carried out at two in the afternoon after he did not attend the previous summons," said the Coordinator of the Public Relations, Data and Information Division of the Jakarta Bawaslu Province, Quin Pegagan, to reporters, Thursday, November 7.

Suswono's summons is a stage in handling alleged election or regional election violations reported by the Betawi Bangkit community organization. In addition to Suswono, Bang Japar General Chairperson Fahira Idris was also reported to Bawaslu.

The Coordinator of the Bawaslu DKI Violation Handling Division, Benny Sabdo, said that his party had sought information from the reporter and witnesses regarding the activity. Therefore, Bawaslu still needs information from Suswono before deciding on this case.

"The maximum is actually until the handling period runs out. The handling of the case, if the total is 5 days. But in this case, we have 3 days of handling. If additional time is needed, 2 more days. So the total is 5 days," said Benny.

Meanwhile, when confirmed separately, Suswono admitted that he did not attend the Bawaslu summons on Wednesday, November 6 night because he was carrying out activities in Cakung, East Jakarta, at the same time.

"I don't know, I just finished the event in Cakung," said Suswono.

Suswono's joke that led to him being reported to Bawaslu occurred when he held a meeting with Bang Japar volunteers at the Nyi Ageng Serang Building, South Jakarta, Saturday, October 26.

Initially, Suswono revealed that he and Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil would add to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's social assistance program in the form of cards for orphans.

However, Suswono emphasized that this assistance card is only intended for residents with lower economic or poor families. Jokingly, Suswono also suggested that rich widows who are not included as aid recipients should help by marrying unemployed young men.

"Are there widow cards? I'm sure there are poor widows. But how can rich widows ask for cards too? I suggest rich widows please marry unemployed young men," said Suswono.

According to him, something like this was done by the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, Khadijah binti Khuwailid.

"Do you remember Khadijah? You know Khadijah, right? She was a conglomerate. Who did she marry? The Prophet. At that time she wasn't a prophet yet. She was still 25 years old, a young man, right? Well, that's an example of something like that," he added.

Later, Suswono apologized for his statement that caused a polemic about the suggestion that rich widows marry unemployed young men like the story of the Prophet Muhammad and his wife, Khadijah.

"I realize that my statement in the meeting with Bang Japar volunteers has caused a polemic, for that I apologize, and at the same time withdraw the statement," said Suswono in his statement, Monday, October 28.