Presidential hopefuls debate

Presidential hopefuls debate

From Republika

June 7 will be general election day with 48 political parties participating in the elections. The parties will bring their own visions, missions and programs. The event is very important because it will determine the future of Indonesia. The future is expected to be much better because it will be shaped by a clean, moral and professional government.

It is not easy for the Indonesian people to choose among the 48 parties. Therefore, in order to understand in a short time the quality of each party, certain activities are needed, such as debates among presidential hopefuls. Debates constitute a more effective way to campaign than distributing party flags and attributes. The many flags and attributes throughout the country do not indicate the quality of the parties at all.

Therefore, I wholly support the holding of such debates among presidential hopefuls because at least they give an instant idea a party's platforms. Such debates would allow the people to cast their votes objectively.

Referring to the debate of presidential hopefuls held recently by Forum Salemba at the University of Indonesia campus on Jl. Salemba, I highly appreciate all the presidential hopefuls who participated. In fact, at present we need a president who is a statesman and a quality professional. We should not forget, however, that we are even more in need of a president who has high morals and integrity and who is clean. The present economic and social crises in this country have their sources in the nation's moral crisis. A nation's moral crisis is usually a reflection of the moral values of its prominent figures. The moral crisis among the nation's prominent figures is certainly a reflection of the nation's highest official, i.e. the president.

NUGROHO

Jakarta