PKS AWAITING WORDS FROM PRESIDENT OVER COALITION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 20 (Antara) - The fact that the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was not invited in a meeting of parties in government coalition on Tuesday last week indicated that PKS had been sidelined from the coalition.          Yet, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his capacity as the chairman of the Joint Secretariat of Parties in Coalition (Setgab) so far has not yet made any statement with regard to the membership status of PKS in the coalition.          PKS Deputy Secretary General Fahri Hamzah said his party was waiting for the President's decision with regard to the news that PKS had been excluded from the coalition.          "We leave the PKS status to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to decide," Fahri said during the launch of O.C. Kaligis autobiography book on Wednesday.          Secretary of the coalition's joint secretariat Syarif Hasan, who is also cooperatives and small enterprise minister, has earlier said that PKS had been excluded from the coalition.          On Wednesday last week, Fahri said the Palace had told one of PKS's ministers that PKS had been pulled out of the coalition. "Yes, we have been told that PKS has been excluded from the coalition," Fahri said.