TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ma'ruf Amin has started to prepare materials for the election debate for vice presidential candidates this week. He will later be assisted by experts whose names remain undisclosed. The contest is slated to take place in mid-February 2019.

“Yes, we have discussed [the election debate] with an expert team. Several experts may come here Sunday [January 6] to discuss it,” said Ma'ruf in his residence, Jl. Situbondo No. 12, Jakarta, Friday, January 4.

Ma'ruf is the only candidate who has never engaged in debates of either presidential or regional head elections. However, Ma’ruf said he was confident. “No problem. So other than material preparations, there will be also mental building. The mental must be ready as well as the material,” he said.

Read: Ma'ruf Amin Campaign Agenda: Receiving Guests at His Residence

Ma'ruf Amin claimed his side would form a team of debate materials to have discussions with him. The team would periodically meet him to keep him updated on existing issues as part of his preparations to face the debate. The team will act as his personal trainers to share information related to social issues.

“I surely need information, data, and objectives to be accomplished. It is different from when I was being the chairman of MUI [Indonesian Ulema Council] or rais aam [head of the advisory board] of Nahdlatul Ulama that required different comprehension,” Ma'ruf Amin concluded.

DEWI NURITA