Robertus Wardi & Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – The Democratic Party said it would not support calls by members of the majority Red-White Coalition, or KMP, in the House of Representatives to launch a legislative inquiry into President Joko Widodo's decision to raise subsidized fuel prices.

The KMP circulated an inquiry petition this week that has reportedly garnered over 200 House members' signatures so far. Only 25 signatures are needed to warrant consideration by the full House, of which a majority must then vote to proceed with a formal inquiry, according to its rules of procedure.

No plenary session has yet been scheduled, as the opposition Red-White Coalition, which controls both a majority of the House and its leadership, will likely seek to lock in petition signatures from the majority of members beforehand. If approved, the House could form a special inquiry committee with authority to summon the president himself.

Syarief Hasan, the Democrats' executive chairman, said on Friday that the KMP's plan was excessive. Syarief argues that House Commission VII, which oversees energy, should first stage a hearing with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to demand explanation.

Answers at such a hearing may hardly be forthcoming. Earlier this week, Joko confirmed issuing a Nov. 4 order that ministers in his administration disobey all summonses to House oversight hearings until such time as the president deemed the House's affairs "settled."

House members should request an audience with the president regarding his decision to raise subsidized fuel prices, Syarief said. "If [Joko's] answers were not satisfactory then we can launch an inquiry."

If House Democrats hew to their party's line, they may foil attempts to launch a formal inquiry. The minority Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH), which supports Joko's administration, controls 246 seats out of the House's 560 seats. A "nay" from the Democrats could bring the inquiry's opponents to 307 against 243.

But it's unclear whether the Democrats' caucus whips will directly instruct members not to support the inquiry. Six members of the United Development Party (PPP) loyal to ousted party chairman Suryadharma Ali, who opposes his party's shift of allegiance to Joko's minority coalition, have signed the petition.

Secretary of the Cabinet Andi Widjajanto remains unfazed, however. "We're not worried, because the administration's argument is very clear," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/fuel-price-probe-go-dems/