Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi called to avoid personal attacks during the presidential debate series. The Executive Director of Voxpol Center Research and Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago said that his call had been violated by his own son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. According to Pangi, Gibran used degrading language during the vice presidential debate last Sunday evening.
Jokowi highlighted the lack of substance during the presidential debate on Jan. 7, claiming there were personal attacks made by the running candidates. However, Pangi believed Gibran himself ignored his father's calls. "This is a quite ironic paradox," he said on Monday.
During the debate, Gibran mentioned Cak Imin's notes, and the team behind him, and refused to explain terms because he believed Mahfud Md was a professor. "We must bring back the forgotten ethics during a debate forum," Pangi said.
Gibran also violated several rules during the vice presidential debate, such as leaving his podium and using foreign terms without explaining the definition. "This begs the question, was the president's son given special treatment?" he added.
The secretary of the Prabowo-Gibran winning team Nusron Wahid believed Gibran's remarks toward Muhaimin Iskandar were a mere joke. "That was nothing unusual for a joke," he said on Sunday. During the debate, Gibran addressed Cak Imin's notes, saying "It must be nice bringing a note [to a debate]."
The vice presidential debate last Sunday faced the three vice presidential candidates; Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Mahfud Md in a debate. The topics include sustainable development, natural resources, environmental issues, energy, food, and agrarian issues, as well as indigenous people and villages.