Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Leaders of several major factions in the House of Representatives will confirm their opposition to the government's plan to increase fuel prices during a consultation meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Although the government has accepted the invitation, the meeting's date has yet to be set.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction leader Effendy Choirie said Friday the government had broken its promise not to raise prices until 2009. "We disagree with the government's claim that reducing the fuel subsidy is the right decision and would benefit poor people," Effendy said.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will demand the House exercise its right to officially question the President to seek an explanation from the government for its policy, faction head Tjahjo Kumolo said.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) has also objected to the policy. "The government has many options to take other than raising fuel prices. If the alternative actions are not enough, it should have been able to explain the reasons so people know it has been prudent in using the state budget," PAN faction head Zulkifli Hasan said.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction said it would not oppose the government's authority on the matter. "But as a party, the PKS conveyed its disagreement with the policy to President Yudhoyono during the party's anniversary several weeks ago," PKS faction head Mahfudz Shiddiq said.

The United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar Party remain undecided on the issue.

The PPP faction said it would wait for the government's explanation during the proposed meeting before announcing its decision. "We have discussed the issue internally, but have yet to decide on our position," PPP faction head Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said.

The controversial policy looks to have plunged Golkar Party into a dilemma because while its leader, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, is the policy-maker, the Golkar faction in the House feels it has the responsibility to articulate the public's interests.

Yudhoyono's Democratic Party is currently the only faction to support the policy.

According to the law, the government has no obligation to seek the House's approval to alter fuel prices. The House approved a revision to the state budget in March, allowing the government to raise fuel prices to protect the budget if world crude oil exceeded $100 per barrel.

House Speaker Agung Laksono wrote to Yudhoyono on Thursday, inviting the President to a consultation meeting on the fuel policy before it took effect at the end of this month. The price increase is slated to average 30 percent across a range of fuels.

State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said the government was ready to attend the meeting. "There's no problem (about the meeting). There are important issues the government and the House need to discuss. We can hold the meeting either at the House or at the State Palace," he said. (alf)