Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Political circles were abuzz on Wednesday with accusations and speculation following dramatic voting that saw the tax mafia inquiry proposal defeated by just two votes, with the surprising help of an opposition party.

Some of the defeated proponents – lawmakers from the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) – insinuated that the rejection was aimed at protecting a number of big companies involved in tax fraud.

"Of course, if this inquiry was agreed to by the House, some foreign companies would be disturbed by it," said Mahfud Siddik, from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Golkar's Bambang Soesatyo, another keen supporter of an inquiry, said the result of the voting was clear evidence of the strength of the tax mafia, saying it "has a network within the government and the House through certain political parties."

Those who voted against the proposal, however, as well as political insiders, said there was more to what went down on Tuesday night than met the eye.

Democrat politicians have said the proposal was nothing more than another attempt to undermine the government. Ahmad Muzani of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra, said his party had decided to oppose the inquiry for fear that it would be politically manipulated for Golkar's interests.

A political source said the vote needed to be seen in the context of political maneuvering ahead of the 2014 elections. He said that despite claims to the contrary, the whole thing was never really about the tax mafia.

The source said the Democrats had made a mistake in launching the idea of an inquiry because it had the potential to expose the president to the threat of impeachment.

He added that the Democrat politicians were novices when compared to Golkar's, a fact exploited by the latter. "The entire thing was a matter of political maneuvering." he said.

As for Gerindra's motivation, Priyo Budi Santoso, the deputy House speaker from Golkar, said its action might see them rewarded with a ministerial seat.

But the political source said it was again all about 2014, because it was in Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto's interest to send "a friendly signal" to the Democrats.

He said Gerindra was looking to the 2014 elections and continuing Prabowo's rehabilitation. By coming to the Democrats' aid, Gerindra hoped the government would not make trouble for Prabowo through the threat of human rights investigations against him.

On the part of the Democrats, the source said it would also work to their advantage by driving a wedge between the opposition parties.