Jakarta (ANTARA) - While sharing his vision and mission at the first vice presidential debate of the general elections, candidate number 1, Muhaimin Iskandar, said that disruption will be the beginning of change toward a just and prosperous Indonesia.

He then illustrated that "slepet," the movement of flicking a sarong at an object, is the same as disruption, which is a sign of massive change prompted by innovation that takes business systems and arrangements to a new level.

"Slepet is disruption. Disruption is the beginning of change," he underscored at the debate, which was held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, on Friday.

He noted that currently, the wealth of 100 Indonesians may well be above that of 100 million other citizens.

He said that it is this inequality that he and his running mate, presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, will seek to change.

The method they will adopt to do this will be increasing the tax rates for the rich and reducing the tax rates for the middle class.

He further noted that currently, 8 million people in Indonesia are unemployed, while 80 million people are working in the informal sector.

Therefore, efforts are needed to encourage workers in the informal sector to get higher incomes.

The Baswedan-Iskandar (AMIN) pair will also aim to provide social assistance in greater amounts.

"AMIN wants the social assistance, which is the state's obligation, to continue, and it even has to be increased. Therefore, we are seeking plus (more) social assistance, which increasingly gives our people purchasing power that boosts the economy," he explained.

The first vice presidential debate was held on Friday as part of the 2024 General Elections debate series. The themes of the debate included digital economy, investment, trade, and state budget management, among others.

Indonesia will hold the general elections on February 14, 2024. Around 204.8 million voters are expected to elect a president and vice president as well as members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representative Council (DPD), and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) at the province, city, and district levels.

Three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates are contesting the elections — Baswedan-Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.







Translator: Tri M, Donny A, Raka A
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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