TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The debate event of West Java 2018 Gubernatorial Election at the University of Indonesia turned into chaos after the candidate pair of Sudrajat-Ahmad Syaikhu (Asyik) delivered a closing remark.
The pair which carried out by PKS, Gerindra, and PAN showcased a T-shirt saying 2018AsyikMenang [2018 Asyik Wins], 2019GantiPresiden [2019 Change the President]. "If Asyik wins in 2018 [gubernatorial election], in 2019, the president is changed," said Sudrajat at Balairung Universitas Indonesia, Depok, on Monday night, May 14.
The statement sparked protests from supporters of TB Hasanuddin-Anton Charliyan (Hasanah) to the organizing committee. Those people who mostly are PDIP cadres shouted, "that’s provocation, urge them to apologize," said a supporter of the pair number two.
Some organizing committees tried to calm them down. But they forced to take the stage to approach the candidate pair number three who campaigning presidential election. "This is an election debate, not a presidential election," shouted Hasanah supporters.
The General Election Commission (KPU) Chairman Yayat Hidayat who tried to calm was not heeded by the protesters. The debate presenters Alfito Deannova and Anissa, who reminded that the debate had not yet finished, did not make Hasanah's supporters quiet. Their shouts were getting louder to ask the pair to say sorry.
The condition began to ease as the candidate backed by PDIP, TB Hasanuddin, began to speak. “Do not harm yourself. Let KPU and Bawaslu [Elections Supervisory Agency] assess such comments in the debate," said Hasanuddin.
IRSYAN HASYIM
