Hatta Outshines Kalla in Vice Presidential Debate
(JG Screen Grab)
Jakarta. Hatta Rajasa, the former chief economics minister, grabbed the spotlight in a lively debate on Sunday night with rival vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla, after a largely forgettable performance in the first debate nearly three weeks earlier.
Hatta came out of the blocks strong in the fourth debate, which centered on human resource development and science and technology, appearing to have prepared well for the debate and presenting his arguments and supporting statistics in a smooth and composed manner.
He also appeared more knowledgeable about the topics under discussion, having previously served as the minister for science and technology.
He noted that annual spending on research and development amounted to just 0.1 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product, or about $930 million, and promised to nearly double it by an additional Rp 10 trillion, or $831 million.
"We will develop innovative centers using a triple helix approach," Hatta said, referring to his and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's program for increasing funding for innovation by engaging the private sector.
"First, the government will increase its own research budget. Second, the government will provide incentives for companies involved in research development. And third, the government will issue a regulation to accelerate entrepreneurship programs."
Hatta gave fairly practical and systematic explanations about his team's platforms on the issues discussed, in stark contrast to Prabowo, who spent the previous debates harping on a vague "budget leak."
Kalla, meanwhile, also displayed his vast knowledge of the various topics — having served as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's vice president from 2004 to 2009 and a couple of ministerial posts before that — but gave a less eloquent performance, after winning plaudits from the first debate in which he outshone his presidential candidate, Joko Widodo, by sparring directly with Prabowo on the latter's human rights record.
While he still managed the old trademark witty questions, they were not as biting, and Hatta handled them well, even countering with his own jabs at Kalla's achievements while in office.
When Hatta said he believed basic infrastructure development was the most important factor to boost Indonesia's business competitiveness, for example, Kalla remarked, "I agree with infrastructure development, but it shouldn't just be rhetoric; it should be executed."
Hatta responded: "You've been in the government, where's the execution?"
In another line of questioning, Kalla asked what innovations Hatta had nurtured in his time as technology minister.
Hatta cited the issuance of a regulation supporting a better climate for the private sector to support the government's research agenda, as well as prompting the innovation of rice grains.
"We innovated useful food products… we supported development of [small] power plants allowing us to learn about technology," Hatta said.
"I regret, therefore, the 10,000-megawatt electricity program, which was 100 percent done by China, without any chance for us to develop our capacity," he added, referring to a power generation scheme that Kalla oversaw as vice president.
Hatta also attacked Kalla over the controversial national examinations, an annual assessment that determines whether a student graduates from school — elementary to high schools, regardless of their grades in class.
The Joko-Kalla camp had previously said in its campaign platform submitted to the General Elections Commission (KPU) in May that it would eliminate the exams, but recently backtracked on the issue.
Kalla said at the debate that he and Joko only planned to "evaluate" the exams, and not remove them altogether.
Both he and Hatta thus agreed to keep the exams, despite opposition from educators and parents over the undue amounts of stress that the exams put on students.
"We need the exams to evaluate the quality of education in the regions, in order to improve the quality," Kalla said.
Hatta said, the exams were needed "to boost the knowledge, skill and aptitude" of students.
The fifth and final debate, on July 5, will feature the presidential and vice presidential candidates, and will focus on the issues of food, energy and the environment.
Posted by: "Sunny" <ambon@tele2.se>
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