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Parties cry foul over Dems, Golkar clout

Jakarta Post - December 22, 2010

Bagus BT Saragih – The ruling coalition will likely still be mired in bickering and internal friction next year, with a member party threatening to coalesce with the opposition to rival what it says was a possible exclusive alliance of the two largest parties in the coalition to win the 2014 polls.

In the strongest statement against the Democratic Party and the Golkar Party's domination of the coalition, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on Tuesday called on smaller coalition parties to form an alliance with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to challenge the two major parties in the upcoming elections.

"The ruling coalition has largely been driven by its two biggest members. The situation has left smaller partners cornered," PKS deputy secretary-general Mahfudz Siddiq said, referring to the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP).

He said the Democratic Party and Golkar may use the coalition as a political vehicle to secure their own interests ahead of the 2014 general elections. "I think this is the time for the other parties to consolidate and discuss our position in the coalition as we have so far been marginalized," he said.

The PAN and PPP responded coolly to PKS calls to join the PDI-P, but they expressed the same concerns over the Democratic Party and Golkar domination of the coalition.

The PPP's M. Romahurmuziy said the coalition had been ineffective due to the "lack of transparency and dishonesty of Golkar and the Democratic Party". The PAN's Teguh Juwarno said many decisions were arbitrarily made by the two parties without the consent of other parties in the coalition. "We are just notified afterward," he said.

Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum denied his party and Golkar undermined other coalition partners. "There is no dominant player in the coalition. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and leaders of other coalition parties agreed to support the government together," he was quoted as saying by news portal detik.com.

PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo played down the PKS' offer to collaborate. "Do I deign dignify that with a comment? They ask for our help but yet they still have ministers in the Cabinet. If you really want to politically negotiate, leave the government and the coalition first," he said.