Armando Siahaan & Anita Rachman – Critics have lashed out at two top ministers for "overreacting" to accusations that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration had lied to the Indonesian people.

The controversy centers on an editorial published in Wednesday's edition of Media Indonesia, which reported that nine religious leaders had on Monday accused the administration of lying to the people and failing to carry out its mandate.

Djoko Suyanto, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, and Hatta Rajasa, the coordinating minister for the economy, quickly took offense, with Djoko saying "claims that the government is lying [are] going too far."

On Thursday, however, Media Indonesia struck back, noting in its editorial that "the government is suddenly allergic to the word 'lie.'?"

The editorial also said that any democratic government should be open to criticism and public debate.

"Any discourse that creates trust or doubt, success or failure, truth or lies... becomes a public debate because we believe in democracy," it said.

"If a number of figures say the government is lying... that is a naked reflection on integrity. It is all too easy for the people to see the difference between what the leader says and does."

Fajar Rizal Ul Haq, executive director of the Maarif Institute think-tank, said the government's reaction was "excessive and leaning toward frightened."

"The government shouldn't close its ears or be resistant [to criticism]," he said. He added the liar label most likely came from widely held perceptions that Yudhoyono had failed to keep his campaign promises.

Pramono Anung, a House of Representatives deputy speaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the main opposition faction, said the ministers had overreacted.

"The government should not have overreacted in responding to [the claim] made by the religious figures," he said.

Pramono said the government was obliged to listen to input from all elements of society. "The critical input of these religious figures should have been responded to in a positive manner by the government," he said.

However, Effendi Gazali, a political communications expert from University of Indonesia, on Wednesday said the government's reaction was "normal."

"It's their right to respond," he said. "The government should study what those alleged lies are and then try to disprove them." However, he added there must have been a reason behind religious leaders' allegations.