Ezra Sihite – First lady Kristiani Herawati, known as Ani Yudhoyono, on Thursday denied allegations that she has frequently meddled in cabinet affairs.

"The cabinet was formed by the president who is also responsible for it, I have never meddled in state affairs," Ani said during the plenary session of the Unity Cabinet Wives Solidarity Association (SIKIB).

Ani's name has been frequently cited as the most influential figure in the president's inner circle. Australian media previously reported that Australian intelligence agencies wiretapped President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's phone and those of his inner circle – including Ani's – because it was concerned about the country's national security.

Ani has repeatedly asserted that she had never been involved in state affairs and said she has never even attended a cabinet meeting. "I attend SIKIB's plenary sessions but that's it, I never attended any cabinet meeting led by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono," she said.

The Australian previously reported that Ani's phone was tapped due to her considerable influence regarding her husband's official decisions.

It cited information from a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks titled "A Cabinet of One – Indonesia's First Lady Expands Her Influence," which claimed that Australian agencies had found out Ani was initially planning to run in the upcoming presidential election until her son was ready to take over the position.

The paper reported the targeting of Ani's phone was carried out by the Defense Signals Directorate – now called the Australian Signals Directorate – in 2009. The US National Security Agency is believed to have been aware of the surveillance and supportive of it.

Julian Aldrin Pasha, the presidential spokesman, said the report published on Saturday in The Australian newspaper was completely unsubstantiated as it was based on information from WikiLeaks.

The cable also revealed that Australian intelligence agencies dug up the information on Ani's political influence from presidential adviser T.B. Silalahi, who strongly denied the allegation, claiming Australia was looking for an excuse to justify its controversial spying on Yudhoyono and those close to him.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin also denied the allegations, saying Ani had never been involved in any cabinet activities. Amir also defended Silalahi, whom he called a trustworthy person.