SBY, Megawati Confirm Attendance at Inaugural Presidential Debate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri and the sixth president Susilo “SBY” Bambang Yudhoyono are confirmed to be present at the inaugural presidential debate today at Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta, today, January 17.

The event will see Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin pitched against Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno in a series of debates.

“Former presidents that have confirmed their attendance are Bapak SBY and Bu Megawati,” said the General Elections Commission (KPU) protocol who did not want to be identified.

Based on the list of visitors, he said, SBY and Megawati will be sitting at the same row and will only be separated by the ninth vice president Hamzah Haz. However, Hamzah has confirmed that he will not be able to attend the presidential debate.

Besides SBY and Megawati, other former state-officials that have confirmed their attendance are the sixth Indonesian Vice President Try Sutrisno, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Zulkifli Hasan, House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian and many more.

The inaugural presidential debate between Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno will discuss several issues such as legal issues, human rights, and terrorism. The debate will last for 90-minute that is separated into six segments.  

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ