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Bekasi KPU to hold election debate
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A worker shows a damaged ballot. Dozens of local volunteers have been deployed to sort and fold ballots for the Bekasi regency election on Feb. 15. (Antara/Risky Andrianto)
Five candidate pairs running in the Bekasi regency election will face off in a debate scheduled for Feb. 6.
Bekasi General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Idham Kholik said on Friday the debate would be on specific topics, such as how to increase local welfare, improve public services, solve local problems, make local development in line with national development and to strengthen national unity.
“The debate will reflect the candidates’ vision, mission and strategy for developing the regency and their solutions to current local issues," Idham told The Jakarta Post. The KPU Bekasi decided the topics, he added.
Idham said the debate, which would be conducted in the form of a talk show, would also touch on narcotics issues, as well as children's protection and women's empowerment.
(Read also: KPU to invite foreign observers for Jakarta election)
Bekasi regency, which has been famous for being dubbed as “another planet” despite its status as Southeast Asia's largest industrial area, has five regent and deputy regent candidate pairs running in its upcoming election.
They include incumbents Neneng Hasanah Yasin and Eka Supriatmaja and two independent candidate pairs, Obon Tabroni-Bambang Sumaryono and Iin Farihin-Mahdfudz Al Hafidz. Obon is a well-known labor rights representative in a regency where blue-collar workers account for around 60 percent of the population.
The other pairings are Sa'duddin and musician Ahmad Dhani and duo Meilina Kartika Kadir-Abdul Kholik.
Among Bekasi’s persistent issues include traffic congestion because of the many trucks and heavy vehicles flowing in and out of its industrial parks, and poor road infrastructure. (ebf)
