CONTROVERSY SWIRLS OVER WHETHER PKS WILL REMAIN IN GOVERNMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 7 (ANTARA) - There was a strong sense that the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) would quit or be ousted from the ruling government coalition immediately after it opposed the coalition's policy to increase subsidized fuel oil prices last week.          Secretary of the Joint Secretariat of the Coalition Parties, Syarif Hasan, said the PKS's decision to oppose the coalition's policy violated its contract with the coalition. Opposition to the fuel oil policy could cause the termination of its membership in the coalition.         Following the coalition secretary's remarks, a PKS minister, Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, responded with a statement that PKS intended to quit the coalition.          The polemics surfaced following a parliamentary plenary session in which the PKS explicitly opposed the coalition's policy.          The government, after a House of Representatives (DPR)'s plenary session on Friday last week, cancelled its plan to raise subsidized fuel oil prices. The DPR held a plenary session to consider its proposal to raise fuel oil prices on April 1, 2012.          The House voted to give the government the authority to make price adjustments or price increases if the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) increased or fell by 15 percent during a six month period.          Even though the government has canceled its planned increase, talk on whether PKS could remain in the coalition has reached the public spotlight.          Syarif Hasan said the PKS's decision to oppose the coalition's policy regarding subsidized fuel oil violated its contract with the coalition. The PKS's opposition to the policy could cause the termination of its coalition membership.          The same view was also expressed by Chairman of the United Development Party Suryadharma Ali, who said the agreement signed with the coalition was binding, thus no coalition member should oppose the alliance's policy.          Further, Chairman of the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar supports the idea of punishing the PKS. "We hope the coalition chairman (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) would take firm action," Muhaimin Iskandar said.          He suggested that strong sanctions should be taken against a coalition member that announced an opposing stand. "PKB will support any punishment given to a member that weakens the alliance's solidity," he noted.          He added that PKB was of the view that the coalition should be unified and of one voice, and no member should be allowed to "stab" from behind.          Also, Presidential Spokesman Julian A Pasha said the decision on whether PKS remained in the coalition would be announced officially. "An official statement regarding the presence of PKS in the alliance will be made later. Up until now, I am still not able to comment on its position in the coalition," Julian said on Wednesday.          Regarding the presence of PKS ministers in the cabinet, Julian said it was President Yudhoyono's prerogative to appoint or discharge a minister. "So, I think we all know that it is the president who will decide whether or not he will revamp his cabinet," Julian added.          In the meantime, PKS seems prepared for any decision taken by the government coalition.          According to Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, the PKS plans to quit the government coalition. "It intends to quit, but I think it is still under discussion," the minister asserted.          He added that PKS members would permit the 'Majlis Syuro' (its highest law-making body) to decide whether to remain in the coalition. So far, he has not received any signal or summons from the president regarding the position of PKS.          Further, PKS Deputy Secretary General Mahfudz Siddiq said his party was waiting for the official statement of the president regarding the presence of his party in the alliance. "PKS will feel relieved after the president has made a decision," he said.          The government coalition, which is composed of the ruling Democrat Party (PD), the Golkar Party, PKS, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB), accounted for about 75.35 percent, or 422 seats, of the total 560 seats in the parliament.          Further, almost 25 percent of the seats in the House are controlled by parties outside the coalition, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle/PDIP, Great Indonesia Movement/Gerindra and the People's Conscience Party/Hanura.          With the PKS contributing nearly 14 percent of the coalition's seats in the DPR,  its breakaway would increase the strength of parties outside the government to about 39 percent of the parliament.          So if PKS pulls out from the coalition, the political alliance would be weakened when compared to the strength of those parties outside the government.          Political analyst Fadjroel Rachman said he believed the president would not have the courage to oust PKS from his coalition. "I think, even if the coalition has controlled almost 75 percent of the House, its policy could still be shaken, let alone if it loses one party member," Fadjroel said on Friday.          He pointed out several cases, such as the Bank Century bailout case, the tax mafia and the latest debate over the fuel oil price hikes, which shook the Yudhoyono government.          "If PKS is ousted or if it pulls out from the government coalition, the support of the Yudhoyono government in the House would be reduced to only about 50 percent," he said.          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, according to Fadjroel, will not let this happen because it will endanger the stability of his government.         Presidential Spokesman on Information, Heru Lelono, has said President  Yudhoyono is focusing more on development programs and the public's welfare, rather than on the PKS controversy. He was responding to accusations that President Yudhoyono's attention had been absorbed by coalition problems, rather than government business or the public's welfare.         "These past few days, even right after the House of Representatives passed the 2012 revised budget bill last Saturday, SBY (President Yudhoyono) has been busy holding cabinet meetings," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 07-04-2012 14:15: