REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Presidential candidate number 02 Prabowo Subianto stated that terrorism in Indonesia was sent from other countries. He recalled that in the past, he, along with current Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan formed the anti-terror squad.

"When I was young, my specialization was in anti-terror, I formed the first anti-terror squad with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. For that reason, I understand the issue because I have experiences. I also know that often times, terrorism was being sent from other countries and was often used as disguise," he said during the first round of Presidential debate in hotel Bidakara Jakarta, Thursday.

He also expressed his disagreement with the notion that associated terrorism with Islam.

"It was being made as if terrorism is associated with Islam, but it can also be controlled by non-Muslim people, even foreign individuals. I thoroughly understand and I highly condemn the stigma that associated Muslim with terrorism. I agree with deradicalization," he said.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) on Thursday night held its first debate between presidential and vice-presidential candidates competing in the 2019 general election.

The debate was attended by candidate pair number 01, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and KH Ma'ruf Amin and candidate pair number 02, Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.

The inaugural debate this time took the theme of law, corruption, human rights and terrorism with panelists of University of Indonesia Law Professor Hikmahanto Juwana, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Bagir Manan, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Ahmad Taufan Damanik, State Expert Bivitri Susanti and Administrative Expert Margarito Kamis.