Jakarta's first ethnic Chinese governor, Ahok, a break with the past

As Indonesia celebrates the victory of reformist ex-Jakarta governor Joko Widodo in the presidential elections, it also marks the rise of his deputy, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who takes over from him.

Purnama, 48, is the first ethnic Chinese to become the governor of Jakarta, the capital of the world's largest Muslim nation of 245 million people.

The rise of geologist and businessman Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, underscores how far Indonesia has come in the country's struggle to break from its authoritarian and racially charged past, where just 16 years ago ethnic Chinese were the target of mob violence when riots erupted across the country.

"With the advance of democracy, we have become less conscious of our differences. So the presence of Ahok and others like him in political positions has become natural," said former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.

"People are increasingly aware that people should be judged on merit," he added.

The Asian economic crisis of the late 1990s threw millions out of work, and fuelled anger against the Chinese, who make up about 2 per cent of the population but who are often perceived as controlling a disproportionate amount of the country's wealth.

The mayhem that started on May 13, 1998 occurred against a background of massive demonstrations, adding to the pressure that forced late president Suharto to resign after having ruled with an iron fist for 32 years.