Mega to open, close presidential dialog<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Megawati Soekarnoputri will get the first opportunity to shine in
\nthe planned presidential dialogs, after she and her running mate
\nHasyim were drawn to appear first on stage.<\/p>\n
The draw by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Friday
\ngave Megawati and Hasyim the first of two hours allocated on the
\nfirst day of the three-day official campaign period between Sept.
\n14 and Sept. 16.<\/p>\n
The dialogs are the only legal form of campaigning available
\nfor Megawati and Hasyim, and their opponents in the Sept. 20
\npresidential runoff, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running
\nmate Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
On the first day of the dialog, the candidates will field
\nquestions about political, legal and human rights issues from a
\ngroup of panelists, who will be appointed by the KPU and the
\ncandidates' campaign teams.<\/p>\n
On the second day of the dialog, when candidates will discuss
\nat length their economic platforms and social welfare issues,
\nSusilo and Kalla will appear first, followed by Megawati and
\nHasyim in the second hour.<\/p>\n
On the final day of the dialog, Susilo and Kalla will discuss
\nsocial, cultural and religious issues first, before Megawati and
\nHasyim conclude the series of dialogs.<\/p>\n
Before the end of the three-day dialog, both pairs of
\ncandidates are expected to sign a pact agreeing to help maintain
\nthe calm before and after election day.<\/p>\n
\"It is during this occasion that we hope SBY and Ibu Mega will
\nbe willing to shake hands after signing the pact,\" KPU member
\nValina Singka Subekti said, referring to the presidential
\ncandidates by their nicknames.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony marking the beginning of the one-month campaign
\nprior to the first round of the presidential election in June,
\nMegawati and Susilo, her former security minister, did not have
\nany direct contact.<\/p>\n
The KPU ruled it would hold only a dialog where candidates
\nwould not be in the same room during the program. In a watered-
\ndown version of a debate, candidates will individually take
\nquestions from panelists.<\/p>\n
The KPU, after receiving input from the campaign teams,
\npublished on Friday the names of the 24 people who will sit on
\nthe panels.<\/p>\n
Among the panelists are political analysts Daniel Sparringa,
\nIkrar Nusa Bakti and Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Muslim scholars
\nAzyumardi Azra and Syafii Maarif, economists Marie Pangestu,
\nFaisal Basri and Lin Che Wei, psychologist Saparinah Sadli,
\nplaywright Ratna Sarumpaet and reverend Nathan Setiabudi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu)
\nquestioned executives at state banks BRI, BNI 46 and Mandiri,
\ncoal mining company Bukit Asam and state and oil gas company
\nPertamina over their possible involvement in the alleged pro-
\nMegawati quiz Indonesia Sukses (Successful Indonesia), which
\noffered Rp 14.1 billion (US$1.5 million) in total prizes.<\/p>\n
Executives from the state telecommunications company failed to
\nanswer the summons on Friday but agreed to appear next Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu deputy chairman Rozy Munir told The Jakarta Post the
\nthree state banks told the committee they pledged to disburse
\nfunds allocated for the quiz prizes.<\/p>\n
\"However, they said the foundation that organized the quiz
\nproposed the funds through regular procedures, and the funds
\nwould be disbursed only after the winners were declared,\" Rozy
\nsaid, adding that the prizes would go directly into the winners'
\naccounts.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Madani Professional Community said in a
\nstatement the involvement of state-owned enterprises in the quiz
\nwas a blatant violation of good corporate governance principles.<\/p>\n
\"State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi should
\nbe more resolute in upholding these principles,\" Ismed Hasan
\nPutro of the group said in a statement.<\/p>",
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