Anita Rachman – Amid a rash of complaints from coalition parties, the ruling Democrats said on Wednesday that the joint secretariat charged with managing the pro-government coalition was in need of review.

"We need an evaluation so that the joint secretariat's communication can be even more solid in 2011," said Saan Mustopha, deputy secretary general of the Democratic Party.

The joint secretariat was established in May by the ruling coalition to unify pro-administration parties at the House of Representatives. The body is chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Saan's statement came after a series of remarks by coalition members criticizing the joint secretariat, currently managed by Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie and Democratic Party secretary Syarif Hassan.

On Sunday, M. Romahurmuziy, deputy secretary general of the United Development Party (PPP), told the Jakarta Globe the secretariat was rife with dishonesty and had devolved into little more than a forum for bickering among rival coalition members.

Anis Matta, secretary general of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said on Wednesday that the secretariat had become a rubber stamp to approve the government's policies.

The secretariat "has disobeyed the agreement: that the joint secretariat would serve as the coalition's kitchen. It [is meant to] discuss basic government policies," Anis said.

He cited the recent draft revision on the special status of Yogyakarta, saying the government did not invite coalition members to discuss it. "I think we need a year-end evaluation," he said.

Mahfudz Siddiq, deputy secretary general of the PKS, said on Tuesday that the dynamics in the secretariat had shown that the two largest parties in the coalition, the Democrats and Golkar, had "wed politically" for their own purposes, squeezing out the other members.

Divisions in the secretariat were further highlighted on Wednesday when Tjahjo Kumolo, secretary general of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), claimed that three coalition parties – the PKS, PPP and the National Mandate Party (PAN) – had recently approached his party and discussed joining the opposition.

When the secretariat was created in May, opposition parties saw the move as an attempt by the Democrats to consolidate power and ensure the loyalty of their allied factions, many of which had opposed the Democrats' attempt to stop the investigations into the 2008 Bank Century bailout.

Saan, however, said no single party had dominated the secretariat. He said equality ruled and that member parties, big or small, all had a voice in deciding on policies. "The spirit is equality," he said. "Everything that is related to the joint secretariat's stance has always been done together."

He said it was undeniable that each of the coalition members had its own interests at heart, but that there was always dialogue between the parties. He added that it was not surprising that members had complaints about some of the secretariat's decisions, with not every step taken by the body receiving unanimous support.

He also said he doubted that Mahfudz was making his criticisms on behalf of the PKS. However, Saan added, if the PKS was unsure about the benefits of remaining in the coalition, the party was welcome to reconsider its membership.

He said the Democrats also had complaints about the secretariat, "but we never talked to the public about that.

"We are trying to find the best format. If there are complaints, talk to the joint secretariat's members. Let's do a year-end evaluation and look ahead to 2011," he said. "We are not evaluating our stance on the coalition, but are looking for the best format for us."

Separately, Priyo Budi Santoso, chairman of Golkar's executive board, said parties with complaints should have reported them to the president as the chairman of the joint secretariat.

Bima Arya Sugiarto, chairman of PAN's executive board, said what needed to be fixed was the parties' commitment to the body, not just the communication.