TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The issue of infrastructure development is emerging in the wake of the second presidential debate set to be held on February 17, which will take on the theme of energy, infrastructure, natural resources, and environmental issues.

Infrastructure is predicted to be Jokowi's Ace card in the debate, meanwhile, Prabowo may appear aggressive with counter-arguments against the incumbent’s policies on infrastructure.

This trend upon attacking Jokowi’s infrastructure policies has sparked with Prabowo’s campaign team (BPN) advisor Fadli Zon who said; “The people can’t eat those infrastructures, right? They eat rice, staple foods and others that are getting expensive while people’s buying power has dropped,” said Fadli in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

BPN spokesman Suhendra Ratu Prawiranegara argues that infrastructure projects under Jokowi’s administration lack efficiency, highlighting the light rail transit construction in Palembang which he thinks hampers the government’s finance.

Meanwhile, presidential chief of staff Moeldoko countered the opposition’s criticisms by deeming them as ‘misguided opinions’ and annuls the fact that Indonesia is still behind other countries in terms of infrastructure.

DEWI NURITA