Presidential candidates ignoring sanitation development, NGO says

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 06/26/2009 3:40 PM  |  Presidential Election

An NGO says all three presidential candidates show a lack of concern when it comes to sanitation development.

The Drinking Water and Environmental Health Development Network (AMPL) head, Oswar Mungkasa, said the lack of seriousness was shown by the absence of Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential campaign team at an open discussion held by the NGO in Jakarta on Friday.

"We invited them, but they did not show up. Frankly I am disappointed, but I am used to it because sanitation has never been a 'sexy issue' for them," he said.

Oswar regretted the fact the other candidates' campaign teams sent incompetent speakers to the discussion.

"You could hear it yourself during the discussion. One of them said something about 'maritime economics' while the other talked about 'education and cultural development'," he said.

"However, we have to respect their willingness to show up," he added.

Dyan Syakhroz from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) campaign team said SBY would provide more funds for sanitation.

"Right now, there have been so many natural disasters which have forced SBY to focus more on those, rather than sanitation, issues," she said.

Zarmansyaf from Jusuf Kalla’s presidential campaign team said the sanitation issue would be brought into the discussion during the next presidential debate.(hdt)
    

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