"He will remain at ease. He will not be offensive though he gets input from his men that a strategy that he necessarily applies is this and that. He will not do so because he wants our people to remain calm and happy to welcome the convening of this fiesta of democracy," said Uno, Prabowo Subianto's running mate, on Saturday.
Speaking to local journalists on the sidelines of his open campaign in Cilegon and Serang, Banten Province, he said Prabowo Subianto had got input from his colleagues ahead of this round of debate which highlighted the issues that he was so familiar with, he said.
Taking place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Central Jakarta, he said Prabowo Subianto would reiterate his commitment to maintaining the state ideology Pancasila, National Unity in Diversity, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and 1945 Constitution.
To the best of his knowledge, Prabowo Subianto has not merely talked about the unity in diversity but he has lived with it. Hence, he is the witness of the strength of Indonesia's unity in diversity, Sandiaga Uno said
What the people need now is the convening of the legislative and presidential elections, due to be held simultaneously on April 17, is expected to be credible and fair. "We hope that the elections will be held fairly and how this round of debate will enable the voters to determine their political preference maturely," he added.
Regarding this Saturday evening's presidential debate, the General Elections Commission (KPU) has provided 500 invitations. Among the VIP figures that the KPU invited to see the fourth round of presidential debate which highlights the issues pertaining to ideology, administration, defence and security, as well as international relations. are Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Police Chief General Tito Karnavian.
The top men of the Indonesian military and national police were invited to see the debate because they are closely related to defence and security issues that incumbent President Joko Widodo and his contender Prabowo Subianto would debate, the KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan said.
For this fourth round of presidential debate, the KPU commissioners had decided not to invite any of the cabinet members but they welcomed them if they were invited by the national campaign teams of the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin, and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno pairs, he said.
The KPU had prepared 500 invitations for the Saturday evening's presidential debate. Each of the two presidential and vice presidential pairs' campaign teams received 100 invitations while 300 remaining invitations belong to the KPU, Setiawan said.
Like the three previous rounds of debate, this event was also broadcast live and live-streamed by several television channels, including SCTV and Indosiar. For this debate, the list of questions is prepared and drafted by nine penalists. They are Zakiyuddin, J Haryatmoko SJ, Erwan Agus Purwanto, Valina Singka Subekti, Al Araf, Apolo Safanpo, Dadang Tri Sasongko, I Basis Eko Soesilo, and Kusnanto Anggoro.
As part of the 2019 presidential elections, the KPU has organized five rounds of presidential debates. The first and second presidential debates were held on January 17 and February 17, 2019, respectively, during which the two presidential candidates shed light on their views and perspectives on issues pertaining to law, corruption, terrorism, environment, and infrastructure.
The third debate, organized on Mar 17, drew focus on educational, employment, health, as well as social and cultural issues. The presidential debates are expected to offer a clear picture of the two pairs' capacity and capability to some 192 million eligible voters.
Besides convening the presidential debates, the KPU also allows these two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates to conduct their open campaign trails from March 24 to April 13.
With sufficient information that the eligible voters obtain from the five rounds of debate and open campaign trails of the two pairs of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, they are expected to be able to cast their votes rationally.
Regardless of which pair is the winner in the upcoming presidential election, Indonesia is certain to bear witness to a new and capable president and vice president.
Translator: Mulyana, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
