As the fourth election debate approaches, the presidential candidates and their running mates have been raising topics that are closely related to those up for discussion, including the food estate program and the controversial mining activity in Wadas, Central Java.

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 last time before February’s election. The debate will focus on energy, natural resources, food, agriculture, carbon tax and indigenous communities.

In line with these themes, presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo said that he welcomed rivals to grill his running mate Mahfud about the mining of andesite in Wadas in Purworejo during his time as Central Java governor. The mining sparked protests from local residents, who were concerned about the impact on their environment and refused to give their land over to the government, resulting in clashes between protesters and the police.

The andesite in question is being used for the construction of the nearby Bener Dam, which will supply water and electricity.

“The issue should be brought up [in the coming debate],” Ganjar said during a discussion in Jakarta on Sunday, as quoted by Tempo.co. He said that, as Central Java governor at the time, he had the responsibility to support the dam construction because it was a national strategic project.

Read also: Police slammed for ‘repressive’ arrest of Wadas villagers

On another occasion, candidate Muhaimin criticized the food estate program launched by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2020, promising to cancel it and put forward the interests of farmers instead, should he and presidential candidate Anies Baswedan win the election.

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