According to Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring, a member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had asked him to tell his party colleagues not to stir up a fuss over the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

"SBY has asked us to help him calm the situation down," Tifatul said Monday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

The President's request was made in response to a recent statement made by Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) secretary-general Anis Matta, who threatened to go public about a "special deal" made between his party and Yudhoyono if the latter replaced any PKS members of the Cabinet.

Anis also criticized the President over the planned reshuffle, saying he was certain it would not be as effective as expected.

There are currently four ministers from the PKS; Tifatul Sembiring, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri and Research and Technology Minister Suharna Surapranata.

In response to Anis' remarks, Tifatul said he had informed Yudhoyono that this was not his party's policy. "That was just his individual statement. Our party's highest authority is vested in the party ulema council. We will obey whatever the council decides we must do," he said.