Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The Golkar Party's sudden U-turn on the Bank Century case in the wake of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's resignation to take a position at the World Bank has rankled coalition partners and opposition parties alike.

Golkar's Priyo Budi Santoso, a deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, said earlier that his party could now ease off the investigation currently under way into the Rp 6.7 trillion ($730.3 million) bailout of the troubled bank in 2008, which the House ruled was flawed.

Anis Matta, secretary general of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), a member of the ruling coalition, condemned Golkar's about-face. Closing a case in progress simply by dint of a "secret political agreement" would be impossible, he said.

"The case will only end when the law enforcement agencies looking into it reach their conclusions," Anis said. "Golkar would be making a big mistake by not committing to the process."

He added that Sri Mulyani was not the only top official singled out for blame by the House. Vice President Boediono, who was central bank governor at the time of the bailout, is the target of a possible impeachment move by a group of outspoken legislators, spearheaded by Golkar and PKS.

"We know that in the Century case, Boediono is more culpable than Sri Mulyani," Anis added.

Contacted on Friday, Priyo said his earlier statement alluded to Golkar seeking a way to ease the tensions that had arisen from the Bank Century fallout. He added that this included ending talk of invoking the House's right to express an opinion, which could pave the way for Boediono's possible impeachment.

"We should calm down the fighting, and only if there's no other option should we resort to invoking that right," Priyo said.

Nonetheless, Martin Hutabarat, from the opposition Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), lambasted Golkar for flip-flopping on its commitment to pursue the Bank Century case.

He said that even with Sri Mulyani out of the picture, Gerindra would stay the course in seeing out the ongoing criminal investigation into the bailout. "We're committed to it and will keep taking whatever steps are necessary to get closure," he said.

Ganjar Pranowo, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), another opposition party, also criticized Golkar, calling its apparent change of tack characteristic of the political chicanery it perfected as the ruling party during Suharto's New Order regime.

"They will always be viewed by the public as putting their political interests above all else," he said. "Their latest move is very dangerous and very strange."

Separately, activists on Friday demanded the House investigate why a copy of its detailed findings into the Bank Century bailout had not been submitted to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which is currently running a criminal investigation into the case.

Priyo said the House secretariat would liaise with the KPK. "Let's not blow this issue out of proportion," he added.