TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Functional Group (Golkar) Party politician Hetifah Sjaifudian broke down a number of environmental issues predicted to be used by the opposition against incumbent candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the second presidential debate scheduled to take place on February 17, 2019.

"Maybe later we would have to find a way to explain it. Because actually [Jokowi] has many achievements in the environment sector," said Hetifah in a discussion held at the Golkar Party central executive board (DPP) on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Many of Jokowi's programs are criticized for allowing environmental destructions such as the government program upon improving food security through planting acres of palm oil plantations.

"The take over from being an agricultural land to mines and plantations might be questioned. And why would Jokowi let deforestations happen," said Hetifah.

Another issue that might arise, according to Hetifah, is the existence of 487 forest area land use loan permit that allows forests to be converted into mining areas, which she said must be answered.

FRISKI RIANA