Muninggar Sri Saraswati – Members of the Democratic Party hit out at their coalition partners on Tuesday, accusing parties aligned to the ruling government of political point scoring and even betrayal over the PT Bank Century scandal.
Mohammad Jafar Hafsah, a legislator from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrats, said coalition parties had failed to work as a team and had cornered the government.
He said coalition members on the House of Representatives special committee investigating the costly bailout should have immediately rejected calls for the temporary suspension of Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
The 30-strong committee has recommended that Boediono and Sri Mulyani be suspended, though the full House is yet to debate the matter.
"Members of the committee are endorsed by their respective factions," Jafar said. "They should have spoken on behalf of their factions... the team should not be conducting [political] maneuvers."
Jafar brushed aside speculation the coalition was disintegrating, but called on partners to maintain trust and ethical standards.
"The coalition is not based on law. If there is a disagreement, it cannot be brought to the police, the prosecutors or the courts," he said.
Earlier, fellow Democrat Ruhut Sitompul accused the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) of betraying his party.
Idrus Marham, a lawmaker from Golkar who chairs the committee, acknowledged that his party, a key member of the coalition, was facing a dilemma in its response to the investigation.
"The Democratic Party agreed to probe this case, Golkar supported it," said Idrus, who is considered an ally of Yudhoyono's. "But if we are critical, we can be said to be betraying the coalition," he said, although he added that Golkar lawmakers were only fulfilling their duties.
PKS legislator Andi Rahmat also rejected the accusations, saying it was an attempt by the Democrats to interfere with the work of the committee. "Since the very beginning, the Democrats have appeared not to be very optimistic about the Century probe," he said.
The committee has been criticized for politicizing the investigation, amid claims it is unfairly targeting Boediono and Sri Mulyani, both respected technocrats.
There are allegations that controversial businessman Aburizal Bakrie, chairman of Golkar, wants Sri Mulyani out after a series of confrontations, most recently the ongoing probe by the Directorate General of Taxation into alleged massive tax arrears involving three of Bakrie's companies.
Though the Democrats and Yudhoyono were the resounding winners of the recent elections, a series of political scandals have shaken the once seemingly rock-sold coalition to the core, hindering the government's ability to press ahead with much needed reforms.
Political observer Abdul Gaffar Karim said Yudhoyono should not hesitate to trim the coalition and reshuffle his cabinet. "The coalition has been weak since it was established. I think SBY must have the courage to trim his coalition to make it a solid one."