Kalla`s business acumen was very visible during the debate, because he was always looking for a breakthrough."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Rector of Jakarta State Islamic University, Komaruddin Hidayat, said that both the Indonesian vice presidential candidates had similar outlook during the vice presidential debate on Sunday (29/6), because they had similar experiences.

"Both (Hatta Rajasa and Jusuf Kalla) are business tycoons and technocrats who had chosen to enter into politics and bureaucracy. Both have a good understanding on law, State Budget, and national issues," said Komaruddin while contacted here on Monday.

According to Komaruddin, the factor that differentiated both was age. Komaruddin said that while Hatta Rajasa who was younger was more organized in expressing his views, Jusuf Kalla who are older, had a lot of breakthrough.

"Kallas business acumen was very visible during the debate, because he was always looking for a breakthrough," said Komaruddin.

Hatta Rajasa and Jusuf Kalla had attended a vice presidential debate on Sunday night (29/6), organized by General Election Commission (KPU).

Indonesia will conduct a democratic presidential election on July 9, 2014, which will be contested by two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla.

Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the chairman of Gerindra (Great Indonesia Movement) Party, while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Jokowi is Jakarta governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, Jusuf Kalla (JK), is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.

The Prabowo-Hatta pair is supported by Gerindra, PAN, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), and the Golkar Party, whose current chairman is Aburizal Bakrie, owner of TV One.

The Jokowi-JK pair is supported by five political parties: the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura), the Justice and Indonesian Unity Party (PKPI), and the National Democrat Party (Nasdem) established by Surya Paloh, owner of Metro TV and the Media Indonesia newspaper.

(Reported by Dewanto Samodro/translated & edited by Maria Rosari/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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