JK Laments KPU Decision to Earlier Expose Debate Questions

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla or JK lamented the decision made by the General Election Commission (KPU) that planned to hand out the list of questions prior to the presidential election debate. Answers that would be provided by candidates, he opined, would not be real.

Kalla explained a debate was aimed at measuring the knowledge of presidential and vice presidential hopefuls while facing issues. They must decide their own strategies to deal with the question, and thus from that, the public could acknowledge candidate’s skills and make their choice.

“If it (the questions) is exposed earlier, it means that it is the campaign team who answer it. While the one who is supposed to be tested is the candidate,” said JK in his office, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 8.

The man who had faced election debates three times said that campaign teams usually prepared materials for their candidate. Similar to when they prepare for the campaign, the team would hold meetings to present the best answers.

“I personally do not think that it’s a good idea to hand out the list of questions earlier (prior to debates) because it will be first discussed by their campaign teams,” he added.

Jusuf Kalla (JK) explained that responding questions directly during election debates was necessary for the candidates considering they have to help the public to obtain clear option by presenting their abilities.

The General Elections Committee (KPU) commissioner Pramono Tanthowi said his institution would deliver the list of questions for the election debate to the pair of presidential-vice presidential hopefuls.

“It aims to return the debate to its initial concept,” said Pramono in a statement, Sunday, January 6. The list of questions would be given a week before the event.

VINDRY FLORENTIN