Rizal Ramli Challenges Vice President JK to a Public Debate

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Recently appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli has successfully attracted nationwide attention following his belligerence in challenging the Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Criticism immediately resurfaces and it is not uncommon in the political arena. His daring move to challenge Jusuf Kalla in contending the establishment of 35 thousand megawatt power plant project and propose for the contention to be done in a form of public debate surely led many into thinking that he is more of a burden than a useful instrument for the overall government to rely on in trying to attain large-scale development.

Minister Rizal seemed to have been firm on his stance regarding the project as he views it as largely 'preposterous' and lacking in profound analysis that makes it unjustifiable.

Jusuf Kalla's Spokesperson, Husain Abdullah thinks that Rizal's gesture was more of a provocation that could worsen the condition within the government.

"It is odd to see Rizal Ramli vocalizing his own opinion, instead of helping and cooperating with the government, it goes against it. There is nothing to be debated about for matters relating to electricity. He should have known that challenging Vice President is ethically, logically and morally wrong in so many levels," Husain informed through a written statement, Jakarta, Wednesday (19/8/2015).

Husain tried rationalizing the situation by informing how the current electricity supplier (PLN) only retains 42 MW of power plant capacity and to be able to achieve growth by 7% on annual basis, additional electricity force of 15% yearly is deemed necessitated.

The situation slightly heated with Vice President Jusuf Kalla's response presented in an arguably sarcastic tone claiming that the recently elected Minister's lack of understanding on the matter discussed should have emerged as a gentle reminder for him to 'back off' from relevant discussions and focus on the duty officially assigned to him.

Minister Rizal surprisingly responded in a way that suggests the likeliness of escalating tension between the two with him furthering his challenge and requests for Jusuf Kalla to have a transparent public debate with him in front of nationwide audience. (Akp/Tnt)