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Food imports, land conflicts may be in limelight during second VP debate
The fourth debate will cover energy, natural resources, food, the carbon tax, agriculture, the environment and indigenous communities.
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In this combination of photos, vice presidential candidates Muhaimin Iskandar (left), Gibran Rakabuming Raka (center) and Mahfud MD speak on Dec. 23, 2023, during a televised debate at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Indonesia's vice presidential candidates will take to the stage for the fourth election debate, which will cover topics related to energy, natural resources, food, the carbon tax, agriculture, the environment and indigenous communities.
The debate, slated for Sunday, will see the three vice presidential candidates Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Mahfud MD face off for the second and final time before the Feb. 14 election.
Given its importance for the general public, analysts have said food may become the focal point during the debate, especially due to the various setbacks that have arisen from declining rice production and the country’s failure to curb food imports, as envisioned by the government.
Experts said this could also serve as a segue into discussing the food estate program – the brainchild of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration that was kick-started in 2020.
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who picked Gibran as his running mate, has actively defended the program and vowed to continue it, saying it was the only way for the country to achieve food self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, Muhaimin, who is paired with presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, promised to cancel the food estate and opts to distribute land to farmers instead, if he is elected.
Mahfud MD and his running mate Ganjar Pranowo have also criticized the project throughout the campaign season.
