Anita Rachman – With the proposal to launch a special legislative team to probe corruption at the tax office defeated in a razor-thin vote late on Tuesday night, two coalition parties who defied the ruling Democrats said they were ready to face the consequences.
The Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had both earned the ire of the coalition after they came out in support of the special inquiry.
The House investigation was first proposed in January, but was unable to win the 25 signatures needed after seven Democratic lawmakers withdrew their support, saying the probe could be used as a political tool to impeach President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The proposal was re-filed later with the endorsement of 114 lawmakers.
Priyo Budi Santoso, Golkar's executive board chairman and a deputy speaker at the House, said Golkar was ready for any backlash that would accompany its backing for a probe of the tax office.
"If we are no longer wanted [in the government coalition], it's fine," Priyo said, referring to the threat that was aired by some Democrats when Golkar remained undeterred in backing the inquiry team. "We are a good kid, especially to the president," Priyo said, suggesting that his party and its members had been trying to help the government.
The Democrats reiterated on Tuesday that they would evaluate the effectiveness of the coalition in the near future.
Saan Mustopha, deputy secretary general for the Democrats, said that despite his party's expectation that the coalition would remain together, it could not ignore the growing split within its member parties, making an evaluation inevitable.
On Monday, Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum had warned that his party would not necessarily be sad to see Golkar and PKS walk out of the coalition.
But Priyo on Tuesday said that Golkar wanted the government coalition to remain intact, but that the ruling party had to remember its commitment to respecting members with differing opinions. He criticized Democrats for threatening coalition members who dared to voice their own opinions.
Ade Komaruddin, Golkar's House secretary, said his party was ready for "any situations, even the worst." He said that included an evaluation in the coalition and a cabinet reshuffle. In the current cabinet, Golkar holds several ministerial positions.
He added that even though Golkar was not in the opposition, it must remind the government of wrongdoing. "That's the sign that we are best friends," he said of a friend's responsibility to another.
PKS secretary general Anis Matta said his party was also still committed to the coalition, but that the need for establishing a tax inquiry team was in the public's interest. However, he added, PKS was also ready for an evaluation of its role in the coalition.
"Of course we are ready [for an evaluation]," he said, including the possibility that its minister might be removed from the cabinet. "But what I will say is, the issue has been talked about many times, but it never happened, right?," referring to rumors of a cabinet reshuffle that had been circulating since last year.
Saan, the Democrats' secretary general, said that the form of the evaluation would depend on the coalition joint secretariat's leaders. He said that the Democrats respect differences of opinion. However, all members must remember that it is their task to try to arrive at same conclusion on important matters.