Bagus BT Saragih and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Democratic Party politicians are trying to consolidate support from members of the government coalition to block an attempt to launch a new investigation into the 2008 Bank Century bailout scandal.

The House of Representatives' monitoring team on the investigation into the bailout scandal is planning to summon former party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and four other individuals who Anas has said hold valuable information regarding illegal practices surrounding the disbursement of Rp 6.76 trillion (US$697.5 million) of public funds to save the bank.

The party is likely to face another obstacle to forming a solid coalition to serve its interests. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Golkar Party, which are member parties of the coalition, will likely block the Dems' initiative.

Analysts have said the two parties, which often go against the coalition line, may use the renewed investigation to attack President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his administration.

The United Development Party (PPP), another coalition party, said that representatives of six coalition parties had met at the joint secretariat to discuss the committee's move.

"We planned to discuss several issues but it turned out that the Century case became the main focus of our attention," PPP lawmaker Hasrul Azwar said.

"In the meeting, the Democratic Party requested all coalition parties not to carry out political maneuvering following Anas' testimonies. They do not want the monitoring team to exceed its authority," Hasrul said.

The identities of the four individuals who are believed to be the new witnesses in the Century case remained undisclosed. Anas gave their names to members of the House's team when they visited his residence in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on Monday.

According to Hasrul, the ruling party has also questioned the team's move to seek information on the bailout from Anas. "They seem worried about new political turmoil," he said.

Outspoken Golkar lawmaker and one of the team members, Bambang Soesatyo, denied allegations that his party would use Anas as political tool to undermine the President, now seen as Anas' opponent in the Democratic Party. Bambang said, "this is about telling the truth."

Team member from the PKS, Fahri Hamzah, acknowledged the team planned to summon Anas and the four new witnesses. "Anas said he was eager to testify, but he is burdened by his legal status as a suspect," Fahri said.

Anas has been declared a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for accepting illicit gratuities in the Hambalang affair.

The PKS is also been said to be planning retaliation after its former chairman, Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, was arrested by the KPK in connection with procurement of imported meat. The Islamic-based party claims that the charges against Luthfi are part of a conspiracy to weaken the party ahead of the elections.

When asked if the PKS would use the Century case to attack Yudhoyono, PKS President and House deputy speaker Anis Matta said, "This is about the team and the House's responsibility to complete our inquiry." He added, "It must be done because the tenure of the team ends at the end of this year and cannot be extended again."

A team member from the PPP, Ahmad Yani, said he would push the team to summon Anas. "We believe that Anas has information about wrongdoings and the culprits behind the bailout scandal," he said.

The team was established in 2010 with one year of tenure which has been extended twice. It was established as a follow up to the House's inquiry into the bailout which concluded in 2010 that the government's decision to bail out the ailing Bank Century (now renamed to Bank Mutiara) in 2008 was irregular and involved wrongdoings.

The inquiry was widely reported by the media and jolted Yudhoyono's administration particularly after some of his coalition members, namely the PKS, the Golkar Party and the PPP, decided to side with the opposition.