Muhaimin Iskandar vs Gibran Rakabuming Raka: Vice Presidential Debate and Environmental Impacts

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Vice presidential candidate number 1 Muhaimin Iskandar quipped someone he called “opa-opa” because he was busy replying to his statement in the vice presidential debate on January 21.

In that debate, Muhaimin was involved in an argument with number 2, who is also President Joko Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, regarding the downstreaming of nickel and the negative ecological impacts it caused.

“Who is the one arguing, the other person is arguing,” said Muhaimin at the declaration event for the Youth of the Archipelago Youth (Rekan) AMIN volunteers in Jakarta, Sunday (28/1/2024).

He also insulted Gibran indirectly, thinking that he was asking for help from the “opa-opa”.

Also read: When Tom Lembong was attacked by Luhut and Bahlil after responding to Gibran’s attack…

“If you are the one arguing with me, then you have to argue,” said the General Chair of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

“Don’t ask for help from others to dispute my opinion. Don’t ever claim to be a youth if you hide behind the armpits of other brothers,” he said.

For your information, Muhaimin, since the vice presidential debate ended, has continued to “talk back and forth” with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (76) regarding the downstream program carried out recklessly by the Joko Widodo government.

Initially, this issue started when Cak Imin, in the fourth debate for the 2024 presidential election on January 7, said that the program had many negative impacts because it was not carried out carefully.

Also read: It is said that the Cak Imin-Luhut Debate Did Not Save Citizens from the Environmental Crisis Due to Reckless Downstreaming

The consequences were quite serious, from environmental damage to repeated explosions at the smelter site which caused quite a few fatalities.

Cak Imin also touched on the issue of foreign workers who dominate the government’s downstream projects.

He also touched on the downstream program which did not contribute much to the people of Sulawesi.

“Central Sulawesi’s economic growth up to now has reached 13 percent, which is very high, but the people are still poor and cannot enjoy it. Downstream what we want to do, while it is illegal, it continues,” explained Cak Imin in the debate.

Also read: Gibran: If someone is anti-downstreaming, I’m confused, which nation is he on?

According to him, the chaos of mining in Indonesia is not only about downstreaming, but also the number of illegal mines.

“Aside from what Mr. Mahfud said, what is worrying is that ESDM data shows that there are 2,500 illegal mines. Meanwhile, legal mines alone do not bring prosperity,” he said.

Challenge

Luhut also denied Muhaimin. He said he wanted to invite Muhaimin to see the economic impact of natural resource downstreaming in Weda Bay, North Maluku and Morowali, Central Sulawesi.

“Seeing is believing, that’s how it is,” said Luhut via his official Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan, Wednesday (24/1/2024).

Jokowi’s confidant even accused the Deputy Speaker of the DPR of lying to the public, even though the results of investigations from the press and non-profit organizations revealed serious environmental damage caused by downstreaming in Sulawesi.

“In my opinion, it is not a good character to achieve a position, you are lying to the public by providing information like that,” he said.

Muhaimin was not afraid and he dared to compete on data with Luhut, who is also a mining businessman.

Also read: Asked to telephone Luhut, Cak Imin: If the campaign starts to die down, I will meet him

“Yes, we prove it, we prove it. “That the amount of money coming into the country from mining, both directly and downstream, is very small compared to the damage,” said Muhaimin in Tulungagung, East Java, Thursday (25/1/2024).

He emphasized again that currently various government mines are not making local communities more prosperous, as is the case in Southeast Sulawesi and South Kalimantan.

“There are big profits from mining that are not enjoyed by the people of Central Sulawesi. Likewise, look at South Kalimantan, coal. Are people enjoying it? “Check, let’s check,” he said.

Finally, he also admitted that he was ready to check the field conditions directly with Luhut.

“Just be ready. We can check the disadvantages and benefits at any time,” he said.

Also read: Touching again on Food Estate, Cak Imin: We need to include MURI

Luhut responded back and said that Muhaimin could contact him at any time.

“He said Muhaimin (Cawapres number 1) wanted to meet me. He has my telephone number, just call me anytime, (then) he went there (to the downstream location),” said Luhut at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries office, Jakarta, Friday (26 /1/2024).

According to the retired TNI AD’s claim, the statement regarding Muhaimin’s reckless downstreaming was widely commented on by the public in Morowali, Central Sulawesi and Weda Bay, North Maluku.

“And that (reckless downstreaming) that I saw the most comments was from Morowali, you know, from Weda Bay, they said ‘we enjoy this downstream’,” he said.

Muhaimin again did not let up. He challenged Luhut again and will invite Luhut to various mining areas to see the condition of the community.

“Yes, when the campaign starts to wind down a bit, here I am in the area, of course I will meet Pak Luhut. “I took him to mining areas,” said Muhaimin in Wonosobo, Central Java, Saturday (27/1/2024).

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2024-01-28 10:07:00


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