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Meet Tommy Tjokro and Anisha Dasuki, moderators of second presidential debate
Learning the debate's rules, regulations and topics, which cover energy, food, infrastructure, natural resources and the environment, is how Anisha Dasuki and Tommy Tjokro are preparing for the second presidential debate.
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To be held in the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta, the second presidential election debate is to be broadcast by private television stations RCTI, JTV, MNC TV and iNews. (Shutterstock/Gustavo Frazao)
T
ommy Tjokro and Anisha Dasuki have been tapped by the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the campaign teams of both candidates to host the second presidential election debate on Feb. 17.
The two are presenters with private television stations owned by United Indonesia Party (Perindo) chairman Hary Tanoesoedibyo. Tommy works for RCTI and Anisha for iNews.
"I'm surprised [to be chosen]; I'm absolutely honored by this great opportunity. I'm also proud to be able to be part of Indonesia's history of democracy," Anisha recently told kompas.com.
"I would be nervous, that's for sure. However, I'll consider it a motivation to perform well," she added.
Read also: Rival camps gear up for second presidential debate
Separately, Tommy said putting aside any personal political preference was important. "Ideally, we should remain independent. This has nothing to do with [our own] political choice, but more with our professionalism as journalists and moderators."
"Both of us have signed an integrity pact, which forbids any interference from certain political parties or campaign teams. We will maintain the values of neutrality, independence and professionalism," said Anisha, who is a graduate of Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung.
Learning the debate's rules, regulations and topics, which cover energy, food, infrastructure, natural resources and the environment, is how Anisha and Tommy are preparing for the debate.
"For now we concentrate more on the contents. Afterwards, Anisha and I will focus on strengthening our chemistry," said Tommy, who moderated a Central Java gubernatorial election debate in 2018.
Prior to RCTI, Tommy worked as news presenter at Metro TV, Bloomberg TV Indonesia, MNC World News and iNews. The 41-year-old father of two and a winner of the Abang None Central Jakarta beauty pageant is a graduate of the Queensland University of Technology and currently serves as co-founder of the SEPIKUL public speaking school.
Meanwhile, Anisha's experiences as a moderator include debates in the West Java gubernatorial, East Java gubernatorial, Tangerang mayoral, East Nusa Tenggara gubernatorial and Morowali regency elections. Like Tommy, she had previously worked for Metro TV.
Prior to naming Anisha, award-winning journalist Najwa Shihab was among those considered to moderate the upcoming debate.
To be held in the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta, the debate is to be broadcast by private television stations RCTI, JTV, MNC TV and iNews. (kes)
