TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The approval rating of President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi among Papuans hits 77 percent, Jakarta-based pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia researcher Hendro Prasetya said. “The next challenge is to fulfill Jokowi’s [campaign] promises,” Hendro said last week in Jakarta.

A survey conducted by Indikator on March 23 to April 3 involving 710 Papua residents aged 17 and above finds that 13 percent Papuans are satisfied with Jokowi’s performance. Moreover, 76.2 percent say that they will re-elect Jokowi if the election was held now. The figure is above that of Gerindra’s Prabowo Subianto at 5.8 percent and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok at 5 percent. “Jokowi’s current popularity is formidable in Papua,” he said.

Hendro stressed that Papuans are aware of all the issues surrounding the region, such as the progress of the so-called sea toll project, one-price fuel policy, and Freeport contract row. “The programs should be taken seriously. The people are aware of them and expect them to materialize,” Hendro said.

Indikator’s survey also shows that Papuans also highlighted four major issues in the region. Some 17 percent respondents are concerned about fresh water availability, 14 stressed the importance of fixing potholes and lowering staple food prices. Meanwhile, 11 percent respondents see electricity supply as a major problem.

Political analyst with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Syamsuddin Haris said that President Jokowi’s ability to fulfill his campaign promises may shape Papuan’s perception of Indonesia.

MITRA TARIGAN