JAKARTA- Legendary poet and resident of Utan Kayu, East Jakarta, Taufiq Ismail, expressed his support for Anies Baswedan's potential candidacy in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election. He believes Anies should complete the programs he began during his tenure as governor from 2017-2022.

"We as a family support Anies if he wants to run again. It's important for him to finish the programs he started as governor that were not completed, especially since there was a period cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic that lasted more than two years," Taufiq Ismail said, joined by his wife Ati Ismail in an interview  Friday morning (24/05/2024).

Taufiq, now 89 years old, admits he feels lethargic about commenting on or following social and political developments. He only feels invigorated when discussing poetry and literature. However, his enthusiasm reignites if invited to read poetry.

"Yes, Uda Taufiq has indeed grown weary of talking about anything other than literature and poetry. He also doesn't follow developments closely. However, when he hears Anies might run again, he will support him because what was achieved during his tenure as governor feels concrete and is genuinely felt by the residents of Jakarta," Atiek Ismail asserted.

Indeed, Taufiq, who is nearly 90 years old, has yet to try public transportation like the Busway or the MRT subway. However, from his grandchildren's and children's stories, the sense of progress in Jakarta is clearly felt.

"Yes, Uda Taufiq has never been on the Busway because of his advanced age. But Uni (Atiek Ismail) has tried it. It's comfortable. Especially since it's designed for the elderly like me and for women. Very comfortable," Ati Ismail added.

She was most surprised when visiting the former editorial office of the literary magazine Horison, which is also not far from their home in Utan Kayu. Atiek was amazed to see a small air-conditioned shuttle vehicle, and even more so when she realized it connected their residential area to various important places in Jakarta.

"It turns out that vehicle is a Jaklingko service. I just found out. The driver said it was designed to fit into the small streets of Jakarta. The fare is also cheap, so residents can save a lot. That's one of Anies' legacies that I see directly in Jakarta," Atiek Ismail emphasized.

Taufik then added that Anies' attention during his time as governor of Jakarta was also evident. One example is saving the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Center (PDS). "It was a delight because many important archives in the world of literature and the Indonesian language are stored there. Anies provided PDS HB Jassin with a special place and building along with the Jakarta library. That really made me happy," he said.