Jakarta – The House of Representatives this term is unlikely to provide a strong checks-and-balances mechanism against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's new administration even though the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) did not join the Cabinet.

The PDI-P, which occupies 16.78 percent of seats at the House, admitted it made a tactical mistake in playing an oppositional role in the past.

The party was the largest of three parties excluded from the Cabinet. The two others were the Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), which occupy 26 and 17 seats respectively.

Gerindra confirmed it would become a balancing force at the House, arguing that despite being a small party, it has never had a second thought about acting as a critical voice against the dominant Yudhoyono Democratic Party bloc.

"A House is not about the battle between a majority and minority, but it is meant to produce excellent policies that benefit the nation and its people. We, as a small party at the House, aim to monitor this process wholeheartedly despite our small size," Gerindra Chairman Suhardi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He added his party would show the public that truth did not always originate from the majority, and that the voice of minorities would always be heard.

"People might find it difficult to understand our ideals, but at the end of the day, I believe the public realizes that even the minority's voice must be taken into consideration."

Suhardi acknowledged that it would not be easy for Gerindra legislators at the House to accomplish the party's mission, as it was possible they – mostly new legislators – might succumb to ever growing political pragmatism.

"That's why the party will train its legislators regularly, to ensure they receive constant feedback and reminders about their duties from various party elements, starting from the top all the way to the bottom."

Meanwhile, the Indonesian De-mocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which proudly called itself the opposition force in the past, said it would no longer play the opposition card, but become the government's "strategic partner".

"What we did in the past... playing the role of the opposition, was wrong. We now know that in a presidential system, there is no such thing as an opposition bloc," PDI-P chief patron Taufik Kiemas said. Taufik added that a "strategic partner" was also one that kept its checks-and-balances function, by rejecting what did not serve the public interest.

Hanura also took a similar stance. A Hanura member at the House, Nurdin Tampubolon, said his party would maintain its checks-and-balances function by following a "critically constructive" strategy. "Our party is based on conscience. Pro-people policies will receive our support and we will say no to bad policies," he said.

Gerindra, the PDI-P and Hanura hold 137 of the House's 560 seats. This means their bloc represents only 24 percent of the House, facing 76 percent of a House belonging to the majority coalition supporting the government. (hdt)