Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Saturday's public debate was an opportunity left untapped by the two Jakarta governor candidates to make their mark on voters. They were also constrained by being given only two minutes to answer questions.
The only time the candidates have met face to face as rivals whizzed past in 50 minutes, with most crucial issues left unexplored.
Apart from facing one set of questions from each of the four panelists, Adang Daradjatun-Dani Anwar and Fauzi Bowo-Prijanto were only given one opportunity to question each other.
Former national deputy police chief Adang used his to ask what was so special about Fauzi's mustache, given his campaign jingle for voters to pierce the ballot papers on the mustache. Fauzi breezily answered the unexpected query by saying that it was an honor for him that voters would be casting their vote on his mustache.
Responding, Fauzi asked Adang what one should do if he won or lost the election. Adang appeared to hand the show to Fauzi by saying that he would help Fauzi if he won as they are both friends. "Losing or winning would not be a problem for me," he said.
Leader of Adang's campaign team Igo Ilham said both the questions and the answers indicated Adang's casual air, creating a good impression with voters.
The debate, organized by the General Elections Commission, was aired live by Metro TV and Jak TV from Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta.
Fauzi, who hardly gave Prijanto an opportunity to speak, said he would bring in e-procurement within 100 days, if elected, to eradicate corruption practices in the administration. E-procurement is a way to conduct online bidding for projects that are offered to businesspeople.
Prijanto highlighted the importance of revamping the workforce system to make the city more investment-friendly, although he did not elaborate on how he and Fauzi would do that.
Adang said that he would introduce a one-roof-system to attract investors to the city, a plan that was always opposed by bureaucrats and hardly implemented.
Adang made his point by saying that he would have free-schooling programs and providing health insurance as the first things that he would do to secure better social welfare.
Dani attacked Fauzi by pointing out that the current administration's inconsistent policies were the reason why the city had yet to provide decent welfare for all residents.
The panelists were economist Aviliani, newly elected University of Indonesia rector Gumilar Rusliwa Sumantri, legal expert and human rights activist Bambang Widjojanto and Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra.
The public debate was marred by supporters who took part in "jingle wars" inside the venue. There was also a clash between one group of supporters with the police as they were not allowed to enter the already-crowded hotel ballroom.