President Jokowi denies using hidden earpiece and pen/communicator to cheat in debate

A version of Jokowi earpiece and pen conspiracy theory that has been going viral on social media
A version of Jokowi earpiece and pen conspiracy theory that has been going viral on social media

It’s not an Indonesian presidential debate if every moment is not carefully replayed, analyzed and scrutinized. A couple of those moments from last night’s debate between President Joko Widodo and his challenger Prabowo Subianto have resulted in accusations of highly elaborate, technologically advanced cheating by the former.

The conspiracy theory goes that President Jokowi was wearing a hidden earpiece, which supposedly explains why he was scratching his ear at some points throughout the debate, as well as holding a communicator disguised as a pen, which he supposedly tapped on several occasions to communicate with outside help.

Such rumors have been spreading like wildfire among Prabowo’s supporters on social media since last night, not least by people who are officially affiliated with the candidate’s campaign, such as social media campaigner Anthony Leong.

https://twitter.com/thonyleong/status/1097170944970305536

Hmmm is it true?

Jokowi himself has denied the speculations.

“Ah, nonsense. It’s slander, don’t continue [spreading it],” Jokowi said this morning during his work visit to Pandeglang Regency in Banten, as quoted by Kompas

“This is the pen, you can check it. [You] don’t need to create slandering issues like that, lah,” Jokowi said as he showed reporters a very normal pen that some said was a concealed communication device.

General Elections Committee (KPU ) Commissioner Hasyim Asy’ari said the only audio devices Jokowi and Prabowo wore were clip-on microphones that were clipped on to the front of their shirts and their transmitter, which was attached to the back of their pants.

To the possible dismay of the conspiracy theorists, even officials from Prabowo’s campaign (BPN) don’t see why Jokowi would need to wear an earpiece to be fed information and data from the outside.

“Us from BPN know that it’s impossible for the president of Indonesia to use an earpiece. All the data he mentioned during the debate can be memorized in an hour, he could do that on break times during the debate so don’t accuse Pak Jokowi to do such a thing,” BPN Spokesperson Ahmad Riza Patria Riza said today, as quoted by Detik

Riza said BPN did not spread the conspiracy theory.

“It could have been a third party who wanted to take advantage [of the debate] or perhaps entrepreneurs who wanted to market their earpiece product,” he said.

Indonesia’s presidential candidates, incumbent President Joko Widodo and his challenger Prabowo Subianto, went head-to-head in the second presidential debate — the first without the VP candidates — last night as they were grilled on issues related to food, energy, natural resources, the environment and infrastructure.



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