PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES READY FOR DEBATES OUTSIDE KPU'S SCHEDULE

Jakarta, June 2 (ANTARA) - The presidential and vice-presidential candidates who will compete in the July 8, 2009 race are ready to hold public debates outside the schedule set by the General Elections Commission (KPU), a spokesman said.

"We are ready to particiapte in public debates outside the KPU's schedule," secretary of the Megawati-Prabowo (Mega-Pro)national campaign team, Fadli Zon, said here on Tuesday.

KPU had set a schedule for five presidential-vice presidential candidate public debate in the period June 12 - July 4, 2009.

In addition, Poempida Hidayatullah of the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-Win) success team said the JK-Win pair was also prepared to take part in open public debates.

"We are also ready for debates. There is no need to prepare questions for the debates," she said on the sidelines of a public dialogue about the so-called "the 2009 Presidential/vice presidential ticket Air Warfare," organized by Charta Politika Indonesia.

The public dialogue in a restaurant in South Jakarta was also attended by success team members of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Boediono (SBY-Boediono) pair such as Democratic Party associate chairman Anas Urbaningrum, Rizal Mallarangeng and Choel Mallarangeng.

The JK-Win success team was presented by Poempida Hidayatullah, Indra J Piliang and their consultant Ipang Wahid. Meanwhile the Mega-Pro success team had sent Fadli Zon and Maruarar Sirait to the dialogue.

In addition, a political observer Bima Arya said, aside from public debates, an air warfare, discourse and statement warfare could also improve the image of each pair. ***1***