Muninggar Sri Saraswati – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's prayers of late have likely been dominated by wishes that the PT Bank Century bailout probe might die an unholy death, but those prayers reached an entirely new level over the weekend.

Yudhoyono joined thousands of people, including a number of ministers, at a mass prayer event organized by his prayer club, Majelis Dzikir SBY Nurussalam, at the National Monument (Monas) Park on Saturday.

One of those in attendance, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, who also chairs the United Development Party (PPP), a member of the ruling coalition, denied the mass prayer was intended to be a show of force. "The mass prayer should be seen as support for the president and our love of the state," Suryadharma said.

However, he did say that the silent majority of the country, who did not want to see "this country be ripped off by narrow minds," were finally beginning to make their voices heard.

"Previously, the minority have made their voices heard while the majority have remained silent," Suryadharma said. He said he could not predict that the mass prayer would develop into a street movement to compete with critics of the embattled president.

Yudhoyono is under intense and increasing pressure over the bailout, which all but two political parties now say was illegal. Some lawmakers continue to maintain that Yudhoyono benefited from it financially.

The president has distanced himself from the roles Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati played in approving the bailout, and has criticized those who dare to criticize him, including the media.

Political observers Airlangga Pribadi, from Surabaya's Airlangga University and Andrinof Chaniago, from the University of Indonesia, said Yudhoyono used the mass prayer to show his critics that he still had a large number of supporters behind him. "He won the election in a landslide victory," Andrinof said. "He wanted to remind his critics about it."

Airlangga said the mass prayer was "a typical SBY way to garner public sympathy". "He has developed his reputation as a leader with ethics," Airlangga said. "He has showed that he was offended by the rallies using the buffalo. But he got more fierce criticism instead. I think this is the way to make up things."

Also making public appearances at the prayers conducted in Yudhoyono's honor were first lady Kristiani Herrawati, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Communications Minister Mohammed Nuh, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono.