Presidential Debate: Prabowo Subianto Invites Anies, Ganjar to Private Dialogue

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto invites candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan, and candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo to discuss outside of the presidential debate held yesterday at Istora Senayan, Jakarta. Prabowo reasoned that he was unable to answer questions from Anies and Ganjar in a limited timeframe.

During the Q&A session at the presidential debate, Anies questioned Prabowo on the relations between ethics and defense policy. According to him, many people in close relations with Prabowo are smuggled into PT Teknologi Militer Indonesia, a weapon manufacturing company, and the food estate program under Prabowo.

The Defense Minister denied the claim, saying that Anies' statement was misleading. "I'm allowed to have an opinion, no? I believe you (Anies Baswedan) have no right to talk about ethics since you are not giving a good example of ethics," Prabowo said.

Prabowo then invited Anies to have a dialogue and discuss the matter of food estate and PT Teknologi Militer Indonesia. "The data you presented are all false," he said.

When Anies responded that his questions must be answered within the debate and not privately, Prabowo answered with an open invite to the dialogue. However, he admitted that not all issues would be answered, claiming state discretion. "In an appropriate country, an advanced country, there is discretion, Professor (Anies)," he added.

Prabowo also extended the invitation to Ganjar Pranowo, when asked about the achievement of the Minimal Essential Force or MEF. "I could deny your statement, but there is no time (at the debate). I'm ready to meet with you, let's disclose everything one by one," he said.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA

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