Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The United Development Party announced a novel, if not desperate, plan to rejuvenate its thinning ranks on Wednesday – recruit former members who have jumped ship to other parties. "We want to recruit everyone to come to our party," said Suryadharma Ali, chairman of Indonesia's oldest party, known as the PPP.

The Islamic party – which has seen its popularity plummet in recent years and been wracked by infighting – has asked former PPP members Hasyim Muzadi, Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Syaifullah Yusuf to return to the party's fold. Both Khofifah, a former minister of women's empowerment, and Syaifullah, deputy governor of the East Java Province, left for another Islamic party, the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Muhaimin Iskandar, general chairman of the PKB, declined to comment on the PPP's plan to recruit Khofifah and Syaifullah.

Hasyim, a former chairman of the nation's biggest Islamic organization, Nahdatul Ulama, left the PPP to run with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the 2004 presidential race.

So what about fugitive lawmaker Muhammad Nazaruddin? He ran with the PPP in 2004 before securing a seat with the Democratic Party in 2009.

"Don't be like that. Everyone is free to come, but there must be a filter," said Suryadharma, Indonesia's controversial minister of religion. "If we don't use a filter, there would be unrest within the House."

"Like the Democratic Party?" the journalist asked. Suryadharma chuckled without giving an answer.