Ad against fuel price rise sparks heated public debate

Ad against fuel price rise sparks heated public debate

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/31/2008 12:08 PM | National

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng and former armed forces chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto locked horns in a public debate here Friday over an advertisement opposing the recent fuel price increase.

The ad, which appeared on television and in newspapers, endorses Wiranto, who has staunchly criticized the government's decision to raise fuel prices.

It also explicitly reminded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that he had promised not to increase fuel prices.

"Wiranto's advertisement is inaccurate. I have checked all of our archives but did not find any documents showing the President made this promise," Andi told a regular discussion at the House of Representatives' press room.

He admitted that during the inauguration of the new Navy chief last November, Yudhoyono was asked by journalists whether he would raise fuel prices in response to soaring international oil prices.

Andi said the President's exact answer to this question at the time was: "There is no such option. We will try to find another efficacious solution. We will try to find a solution that will not disturb our economy. If it (the global oil price) remains like this or increases, of course we will take some further measures."

Andi said Wiranto's ad had ignored the common code of ethics when quoting somebody.

"What the ad says was not the President's direct quote," Andi said.

But Wiranto, who has announced his candidacy for the 2009 presidential election, insisted he used valid sources for his advertisement.

"I downloaded a news article directly from the government's official website," he said.

He said the article was changed by the website administrator two days later. "So who is being unethical here?"

Wiranto said he released the ad to bridge the communication gap between the government and the public.

"This advertisement was a sort of protest. This is even better because it does not harm anybody.

"I will not stop advertising," Wiranto said.

Other speakers in the discussion were prominent political communications expert Effendy Ghazali, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction at the House, Mahfudz Siddiq, and head of the House's special committee on the presidential election bill, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.

Effendy said an attack campaign, such as that using an ad, was good for democracy as long as it used valid data because it would force candidates to be more detailed about their programs and achievements.

Mahfudz said politicians were yet to show maturity in campaigning during the reform era.

"Candidates use their campaigns either as a catwalk or as a boxing ring," he said.

He said the public needed political campaigns in which candidates set out clearly their plans for a better Indonesia.

Ferry said the 2009 elections would see more debates between presidential candidates.

"The debates will be facilitated by the General Elections Commission (KPU) and funded by the state budget."

He said the KPU would also introduce the presidential candidates to the public through the mass media and that their media advertisements would be limited in both duration and space.

The House special committee started deliberating the presidential election bill last Monday and is scheduled to pass it by August. (alf)