Voxpol Center: Mahfud MD Arguments During The Vice Presidential Candidate Debate Are Much Deeper Than Gibran And Cak Imin

Vice Presidential Candidate Mahfud MD. (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the Voxpol Center Research & Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago assessed Mahfud's arguments in debate were far more vocal than other candidates. "Mr. Mahfud appeared to better master the debate stage in terms of narrative, thoughts, insight, and intelligence. When viewed from that, he won the debate stage this time," said Pangi in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, December 24. The same thing was conveyed by political analyst from Citra Institute Yusak Farchan. He considered Mahfud Md. looking stunning when talking about the substance of the debate.

Mahfud mainly seemed very fluent when talking about law enforcement for certainty in boosting investment. When discussing the eradication of corruption in the investment and economic growth sector, according to Yusak, Mahfud was also interested in inserting issues regarding the distribution of justice. "As Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, I think Pak Mahfud understands the problem well and how the solution is to provide solutions to economic and investment problems. Indeed, legal certainty is quite important," said Yusak in Jakarta, Saturday. Another example, Mahfud dared to admit that the distribution of land is currently unequal. He explained that inequality occurred because law enforcement was related to land ownership in accordance with Law Number 5 of 1960 concerning the Basic Regulations of Agrarian Principles was never seriously implemented by the Government. On that occasion, Mahfud also told his experience when he was criticized about the distribution of certain land by the community. Mahfud also asked the lists of land to the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning or the National Land Agency (BPN). He found that many lands were controlled by individuals and companies due to collusion. "Oh, this (land management permit) was made in a number of years. This is so many years. I know where the problem is and who made this. This is what should be taken into order. Moreover, now this land is suddenly occupied by people for decades, the state is silent, "said Mahfud.

Meanwhile, looking at other vice presidential answers, Gibran, for example, Pangi assessed that Gibran's arguments lacked. Gibran looks much more busy "degrading" competitors with trap questions. In one of the moments of debate, for example, Gibran gave a short question about the issue of carbon management to Mahfud. He asked Mahfud about carbon capture and storage regulations which should be part of the theme of the fourth debate related to the environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that Mahfud answered by reviewing Gibran about the procedures for making regulations.

Previously, the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday, November 13, 2023, determined that three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates would participate in the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres).

The results of the draw and determination of the number of participants for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the pair Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. serial number 3.

The KPU has also set a campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, then the voting schedule will be on February 14, 2024.