[Nulgath]

One of the posts that went viral over the weekend, calling for a boycott on Alfamart and Indomaret because they were forcing customers to pay an extra Rp 100 that would go to Ahok's campaign. In fact, the donation program is voluntary and the money goes to help underprivileged students pay for school supplies.

Recently, many Muslims who are against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama took to social media to call for a boycott on Sari Roti after the bread company denied supporting the December 2 anti-Ahok rally or its cause (some people even posted photos of themselves stepping on packages of Sari Roti bread). Now, many people are calling for a boycott of the ubiquitous Alfamart and Indomaret convenience store chains for reasons that are even more made-up and ridiculous.

The problem seems to have started with posts such as this one by Facebook user Umar Alamudi, which has already been shared over 4,800 times.

“Starting now when you shop at Indomaret or Alfamart they will take Rp 100 to donate to Ahok’s campaign. The proof is the Indomart or Alfamart receipt. BOYCOTT INDOMART AND ALFAMART.”

As proof of this claim, a line on the receipt is circled: “Donasi-ku bangun negeri” (My donation to build up the country).

Somehow the original poster (whose Facebook wall is covered in pro-FPI and anti-Sari Roti posts, btw) took that to mean that the Rp 100 was meant for Ahok’s campaign (without any proof whatsoever) and apparently many of the thousands of people who shared it felt the same way, leading to a storm of criticism against the convenience stores online.

Alfamart released statements through the media and social media to explain that while the “Donasi-ku Bangun Negeri” program does exist, it is purely voluntary and that the money doesn’t go to any political campaigns, but to purchases school supplies such as uniforms, stationery and shoes for underprivileged students in cooperation with the Yayasan Berani Bhakti Bangsa foundation and several other charity groups.

So not only did this hoax spread misinformation and anti-Ahok propaganda, it also probably took away a significant amount of money away from a program to help underprivileged school children. We hope whoever originally came up the hoax feels very proud of themselves.