Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Ezra Sihite – Three parties have expressed support for the government's decision to impose stricter requirements for corruptors applying to have their prison terms cut, with the other six parties in the House of Representatives considering exercising their right to scrutinize the move.

According to Ahmad Yani of the United Development Party (PPP), who initiated the motion to reject the government's move, more than 100 legislators have petitioned for the House to exercise the right, known as interpelasi.

The House was supposed to stage a vote on the interpelasi motion during Tuesday's plenary session, but it was postponed. The motion could eventually lead to a legal case being brought against the Yudhoyono administration.

House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and an opponent of the stricter remissions policy, said factions at the House would be given one week to state their official positions on the interpelasi plan.

Pramono said that although several Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) members had signed the petition, the PKS officially stated on Tuesday that it would not support interpelasi. PKS lawmaker Nasir Djamil confirmed this but added that the party's stance could still change.

"We are withdrawing from interpelasi because there are other concerns. If we find different considerations in the future, this can change again," Nasir said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier urged his ruling coalition to unite in support of all government policies. But coalition members Golkar Party and the PPP have rejected the new remissions requirements. "Golkar is certain the interpelasi will be exercised," said Golkar politician Bambang Soesatyo.

Bambang cited a recent ruling from the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) that annulled the new policy on the grounds that it violated existing penal law. The Justice Ministry is appealing the verdict.

PPP's Ahmad said his party considers the new policy "illegal" and dismissed accusations that his party did not support the fight against graft. "That is not true," he said. "Such an argument is made because [the government] lost in its legal argument. This issue should be examined according to the law."

Other members of the coalition include the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), both of which have not yet taken a stance.

An unlikely proponent of the remissions policy is the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), a faction in the opposition. Another opposition party, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), has not announced its stance.

Saan Mustopa, secretary of the Democratic Party faction at the House, said he was confident the motion would be quashed during next week's plenary session. "We are sure the matter will be resolved because everyone would surely support corruption eradication. How can they say they are committed [to fighting graft] if they reject the remissions moratorium for corruptors?" he said.