Debate Indonesian Vice-Presidential Candidates: Hatta Rajasa vs Jusuf Kalla

Rajasa was able to present his team’s vision and mission (as well as answering all questions) in a calm, convincing and determined manner, while Kalla’s speech was fast and more haltingly. Some, however, claim that the content of Jusuf Kalla’s words was more realistic.

What were the main points of both vice-presidentials?

Summary of Vice-Presidential Debate:

Topics	Hatta Rajasa	Jusuf Kalla
General Statements	• Sci-tech development should be aimed at building national competitiveness, creativity and innovation • Improve workforce productivity through training, innovation centers	• Indonesia on the right track with 20 percent of state budget for education but improved efficiency needed • Research institutions, universities need to coordinate better to boost sci-tech innovation
How to reach education & sci-tech goals?	• Develop centers of innovation and excellence • Boost research budget by additional IDR 10 trillion for the next five years for research on priority areas: food, energy, transportation and health • Improve teachers' welfare	• Include 'mental revolution' in existing school subjects; train teachers to ensure students' right understanding of concepts • Innovations must be centralized under one system connecting universities, research institutions and the private sector • Improve teachers' welfare
How to address the gap in the quality of education in regions?	• Develop innovation centers through cordination with regional administrations • Develop new growth centers through continuation of the Masterplan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) program	• Map regions to see their education quality; redistribute teachers • Reduce economic growth gaps among regions to support better education
How to prevent outflow of high-paid skilled workers?	• Develop value-added industries to ensure jobs for skilled workers	• Offer better pay for skilled workers
How to build synergy between research institutions and industry?	• Development of 'triple helix' innovation center system: government support, incentives for companies engaged in research, regulation supporting entrepreneurship	• Different focuses for different research institutions; cooperation with the private sector • Incentives, including tax breaks, for industries engaged in research activities
How to curb imports of technology products?	• Develop value-added, knowledge-based industries for more competitive local products	• Transfer of technology requirement for foreign companies importing their products to Indonesia • Government must prioritize procurement of local products
Rajasa to Kalla: Why the need for mental revolution?		• Don't associate 'revolution' with rebellion; it is to address issues of leaks in natural resources, among others, more quickly through efficient use of a large education budget and quick improvement of teachers' welfare
Kalla to Rajasa: What's with Subianto's claims of budget leaks?	• Potential losses of up to IDR 1,000 trillion from lack of value-added industries, poor natural resource management
How to improve Indonesia's business competitiveness?	• Addressing lack of basic infrastructure is most crucial	• Improving bureaucracy, especially in regions, to simplify issuance of business licenses/permits
View on national exam?	• Exams are needed to help improve knowledge, skills and attitude	• Exams are needed to evaluate quality of education in regions
Education funding	• Free education from pre-school to high school	• Free basic education but with cross subsidy between rich and poor students

^{Source: JG}

Last night’s debate, which focused on the development of human resources, science and technology, was the fourth in a series of five debates in the context of the presidential election, scheduled for 9 July 2014. This fourth debate was the only one in which the two vice-presidential candidates faced off. The fifth, and last debate, will take place on 5 July 2014, will focus on food energy and environment.

‹ Back to Today's Headlines

Discuss

Please sign in or subscribe to comment on this column