Andi Widjajanto, Deputy of Politics 5.0 for the National Campaign Team (TPN) Ganjar-Mahfud, stated that they have already sent an evaluation note to the General Election Commission (KPU) regarding the second presidential debate in 2024, which was intended for the vice-presidential candidates. Andi mentioned that one of the written evaluations they sent was about the use of abbreviations.
“We have already submitted our written evaluation of the second debate, including the use of abbreviations, and also when Mas Gibran asked a question that was off-topic,” Andi said at the Media Center of TPN Ganjar-Mahfud in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (27/12/2023).
He addressed the question about abbreviations given by vice-presidential candidate number 2, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to vice-presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin). TPN also highlighted the shortened time that resulted in the public losing the substance of the ideas being conveyed.
“For us, when Mas Gibran asked an abbreviation that was not understood by Cak Imin, and the moderator immediately cut him off without giving Mas Gibran the opportunity to explain the meaning of the abbreviation, it disadvantaged the public because they lost the important substance about Sharia economics,” said the former Head of Lemhannas.
He hoped that this would be a learning experience for the KPU to ensure that all questions can be correctly interpreted. According to him, questions about abbreviations should not be an opportunity to show off one’s knowledge.
“That’s what we are trying to address, so that debates 3, 4, and 5 will push the KPU to ensure that the candidates participating in the debate ask clear questions without intending to highlight the ignorance of the other candidates,” Andi explained.
“Because there are terminologies or abbreviations that are not commonly known by many people. That’s what we conveyed in the written memo as requested by the KPU for today’s meeting,” he concluded.
