Febriamy Hutapea & Muninggar Sri Saraswati – The nation's great political standoff continued on Friday, with the Democratic Party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continuing to threaten to pull cabinet positions from parties that fail to support the government over the Bank Century fiasco, and the parties concerned saying that is perfectly alright with them.

Yudhoyono, in comments clearly directed at Information and Communication Minister Tifatul Sembiring from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) – a key member of the Democratic-led ruling coalition – said on Thursday that ministers must first consult him before drafting any regulations or bills.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been heavily criticized recently for a proposal to block Web sites that contain content it determines is illegal, though Tifatul, appointed late last year, said on Friday that the plan was first drafted in 2006.

Responding to the warning shot from the president, PKS secretary general Anis Matta, who is also deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said he had no objections to the criticism, saying it was Yudhoyono's "style."

"He supports his subordinates in public, but he also criticizes them in public," Anis said. "The coalition [members have] different stances but we remain close," he said, referring to the relationship between the Democrats and the PKS. He said the PKS would not withdraw from the coalition unless Yudhoyono demanded it. The party has indicated that it would hold Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati accountable for the Bank Century scandal,

"The PKS always communicates its stance to Mr. SBY," Anis said. "There is no reason to abandon the coalition."

Theo Sambuaga, a senior Golkar official, maintained that the party would not object should Yudhoyono fire Golkar members of cabinet, namely Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Minister of Industry MS Hidayat and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad.

"We have repeatedly said that it is the president's right to reshuffle" the cabinet, Theo said, adding that Golkar had "no problems" if Yudhoyono decided to go ahead with such a move.

Theo maintained that his party would not change its initial stance over the Century case, declaring that the Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) bailout of Bank Century was illegal.

Responding to comments from senior Golkar Party official Priyo Budi Santoso on Thursday that the party would not hesitate to withdraw from the governing coalition, Democratic Party secretary general Amir Syamsuddin said it was within Golkar's right to do so.

"It is important that they indicate their stance, so that we know their intentions," Amir said. "We are not afraid. It is important that people support the Democrats."

Talk of a possible overhaul of the cabinet came up shortly before the end of the president's first 100 days in office.

The Democrats have also formally suggested that the president consider a reshuffle because members of the ruling coalition, particularly Golkar and PKS, have both hinted that they would not support the government's stance on the investigation of the bailout of Bank Century.

However, the president's close allies, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa, said there had been no discussion of a shake-up, although he did not deny the rumors.