"PKS will remain in the coalition," the communication and information technology minister told newsmen at the presidential palace here Tuesday.
Sembiring said the composition of the coalition would remain unchanged and PKS had yet to withdraw from the government coalition.
Democrat Party and PKS` top people had met, he said but he refused to elaborate on the substance of the meeting.
"Well, let`s talk about it later. The president has yet to announce anything. So, we do not want to speak before he does," he said.
Sembiring said he backed the head of state`s intention to maintain his communication with leaders of the coalition members.
In another development, Golkar Party leader Aburizal Bakrie met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for talks about the fate of the government coalition here Tuesday.
Golkar Party Deputy Treasurer Bambang Soesatyo said the party`s stance on the head of state`s plan to reshuffle his cabinet was already clear, namely the party was ready to remain part of the government coalition or become an opposition.
Bambang said his party would appreciate whatever President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would decide regarding Golkar`s presence in the coalition.
Golkar, runner-up in the 2009 parliamentary elections, had calculated all possible political consequences if it remained inside or had to leave the coalition, he said.
In addition, its target was winning the 2014 parliamentary elections, he said.
"If President Yudhoyono keeps Golkar in the coalition, we will welcome it. But, if he kicks Golkar out, we will also accept it," he said.
The discourse on a cabinet reshuffle has become a hot public issue over the past few weeks.
In this connection, the positions of ministers from the Golkar Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) are reportedly threatened after the two parties supported the tax mafia inquiry motion at the House of Representatives (DPR).
At the same time, the ruling Democrat and other members of the coalescing parties rejected the motion.
(SYS/R013/F001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
