Gibran 'Jokowi' Rakabuming Furious, Residents Of Extortion Victims: My Village Head Is Dismissed, Don't Get Used To Bad Traditions!

Mayor of Solo Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Photo: screenshot on Instagram of Gibran @gibran_rakabuming)

JAKARTA - A number of shops located in Gajahan Village, Pasar Kliwon Subdistrict, Solo have become targets of illegal levies (Pungli) in the form of zakat withdrawals. This made Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka furious and went straight to the location.

Accompanied by the Head of Kliwon Market Sub-district, Ari Dwi Daryanto, Gibran returned the money according to the amount of extortion collected from traders. He at once apologized for the incident.

According to Gibran, zakat can only be given by the community to the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) as an official body or institution.

"I apologize and return the money from the collection of zakat withdrawals to Gajahan residents who involve local village heads," said Gibran to shop owners who were 'victims' of extortion, reported by VOI from the Youtube news channel in Surakarta, Monday, May 3.

The amount of extortion collected from traders varies between IDR 50-100 thousand. Gibran then apologized and appealed to traders or residents who were victims of extortion to report this.

"Next time, don't want it, ma'am, even though there is a signature from the head of the village, stamp. Only BAZNAS can collect zakat fitrah, the person in the photo. I will return the money, next time don't want it. I apologize, ma'am," explained Gibran.

Gibran said that 145 shops were asked for extortion. If the total amount of extortion collected touched Rp. 11.5 million. As a public servant, village head, sub-district head should not do this because it violates the rules.

So what is Gibran's next move?

"Tomorrow will be discharged (Monday today)! We, public servants, can't be like this! The head of the village signed this signing, it's getting worse, it's dislodged,"

"The name of a bad tradition should not be continued, once again yes we are accustoming ourselves to something that is right, not to justify something that is commonplace. How come the extortion tradition is allowed, this can't, it must be cut!" Gibran said.