Tangerang. The Tangerang City Election Commission (KPU Tangerang) will hold its first debate for mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates on Wednesday. The debate will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta and will be broadcast live on BTV.

Three candidate pairs will take the stage: Faldo Maldini-Mohammad Fadhlin Akbar (Candidate Pair 1), Ahmad Ammarullah-Mohamad Bonnie Mufidjar (Candidate Pair 2), and Sachrudin-Maryono (Candidate Pair 3).

Yudistira Prasasta, Head of Voter Education, Public Participation, and Human Resources at KPU Tangerang, stated that the debate will focus on welfare, public services, and the alignment of Tangerang’s programs with central government policies.

Five panelists from universities in Tangerang and Jakarta will present questions during the debate, though their identities have not yet been disclosed.

“There are five panelists from academic institutions: Sheikh Yusuf Islamic University (UNIS) in Tangerang, Jakarta State University (UNJ), STISNU Tangerang, UII, and Supertek Indonesia University. One panelist will be from the religious community,” Yudistira said.

The debate will consist of five segments. In the first, each candidate pair will present their programs. The second will feature questions from the panelists, while the third segment will involve randomized questions.

The fourth segment will allow candidates to ask questions of their opponents, and the final segment will feature closing statements from each pair.

Yudistira emphasized that the debate is a key opportunity for Tangerang residents to assess their options for the next five years. He also announced that the second debate is scheduled for November 14.

“The goal is for voters to understand the candidates' vision, ideas, and work programs, allowing them to make informed decisions,” he said.

“We hope this debate will boost public engagement and increase voter participation, from first-time voters and millennials to adults and seniors,” Yudistira added.

You can watch the live stream of the Tangerang election debate here.