Dicky Christanto and Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Sat, 06/20/2009 10:36 AM | Headlines
Dissatisfied with their first appearances, Megawati and Jusuf Kalla challenged their rival, incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, for more lively debates in the remaining sessions.
The Jusuf Kalla (JK)-Wiranto campaign team said Thursday's televised public debate had shown Kalla's weaknesses, and had convinced him of his strengths and chances to take the lead in the next.
"JK will appear in his straight-forward public speaking [manner] in answering [questions about]
actual issues, and outlining his economic program," Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, a member of the Kalla-Wiranto campaign team said here on Friday.
Ali said his team has proposed to the General Election Commission (KPU) to have the moderator give candidates a chance to discuss their own visions and programs.
"It is important to let the people get a whole picture of the candidates," he said.
Mahendradatta, a member of the Megawati-Prabowo campaign team, shared similar views, adding that Megawati was better than her Thursday appearance and that she would be better off if candidates were given a chance to debate.
"She could use the Lapindo issue to 'attack' her rivals' and convince the audience of what she will do to win the hearts of the people," he said, adding that the remaining two sessions were a chance for her to show her capacity and sincerity in working for the public.
In contrast to the other two candidates, incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his campaign team were satisfied with the polite debate, saying they saw no need to change the format or material.
"SBY answered all questions correctly and seriously, to convince the people," Yudhoyono-Boediono campaign team chairman Hatta Radjasa said.
He added his team was focusing on campaigning for SBY in rural areas across the country.
However, Bara Hasibuan, a member of the SBY team, said they wanted the next debate to be more exciting by allowing candidates to stand head to head.
Commenting on the first debate, political experts were not impressed in the three candidates' polite appearances, or the fact that the moderator gave them no opportunity to discuss issues further.
“Last night’s event did not deserve to be called a debate. Each candidate tried their best to look good in front of their constituents by playing the 'good and polite politician”, said Laurer Heydir, a public administration expert.
A political expert from the University of Indonesia, Rocky Gerung, also criticized the debates.
“I give them an ‘A’ for politeness and a big ‘minus’ for delivery of substance,” Rocky said.
“The moderator should be given freedom to dig deeper on certain issues. As it stands, the debate is too rigidly scripted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the General Elections Commission (KPU) says it will not likely change the format of the debates to prevent candidates from trading attacks on substance and personality.
“We’ve received criticisms about the debate being boring and having too many pauses, but the debate's format will not likely change,” KPU chief Abdul Hafiz Anshary said. (hdt/fmb)
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