Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – Saturday's public debate between the two gubernatorial candidates has come in for criticism from observers, who have said the event was a formality rather than a chance to focus on important issues.
Former deputy National Police chief Adang Daradjatun and his running mate, incumbent Jakarta councilor Dani Anwar, will compete with current Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo and retired Army general Prijanto in the election on Wednesday.
Commentators said both candidates failed to touch on real city issues in the debate and instead engaged in "meaningless talk".
"The only thing the candidates thought about was how to be fascinating in front of the public," said political expert Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia.
"They forgot what the debate was all about and left out city issues like how to alleviate poverty and how to develop the capital to be juxtaposed with other cities in developed countries," he said.
The candidates appeared last Saturday in the 50-minute debate, which was organized by the Jakarta Elections Commission and aired live by Metro TV and Jak TV from the Sahid Jaya Hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta.
Agreeing with Abri, political expert Andrinof Chaniago said, "Apart from the limited time, both candidates failed to explore and elaborate on Jakarta's main issues, which had been simplified in their banners and posters."
"It was clear they didn't have good comprehension of the city's issues, and they made their goals for the next administration obscure," said Andrinof. He also said the debate did not reveal what Jakartans should know about the candidates.
Echoing Andrinof, Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) head Azas Tigor Nainggolan said the debate had had little impact on voters. He said the people needed to know about the candidates. "But after the debate, I believe the people are still puzzled about which candidate is better than the other," he said.
In addition, Azas and Andrinof said they were doubtful that the commission "sincerely" carried out the debate. "While each candidate failed to explore their opponents, panelists at the debate seemed powerless to ask bold questions," said Azas.
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 candidates spent a few minutes of the debate on Fauzi's mustache, a campaign gimmick of Fauzi's team and supporters.
"I suspected the commission had purposely organized the debate in such a way so each candidate had not enough time for elaboration," said Andrinof.
"Another proof of the commission's negative intent is that the commission had picked a banking economist rather than an expert on social economy," he said.