"The problem so far is in the parliament."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked political parties in the government coalition to show greater commitment to supporting the administration`s policies.
United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali said the President made the request during a meeting with PPP leaders here on Thursday.
"To my understanding, he considered PPP to have carried out its commitment well. The President also reiterated his call for political parties in the coalition to increase their commitment to the government`s policies," he said.
Suryadharma Ali, who is currently minister of religious affairs, said PPP during the meeting had reaffirmed that it would continue to remain in the coalition until the end of President Yudhoyono`s term in 2014.
He said President Yudhoyono at the meeting also told about his intention to revamp the coalition so that it would run better.
"The President said he would review the coalition to make it better. PPP is now waiting. We did not give any input. We just chatted yesterday and we gave no special input," Suryadharma said.
The secretary of President Yudhoyono`s ruling Democrat Party`s council of patrons, Andi Mallarangeng said the revamping of the coalition was important with regard to making political party members have a common perception at executive as well as legislative levels.
"The coalition exists in the government as well as in the parliament. So it must not only be present in the government but also in the parliament. A government policy is made along with the parliament,is it not" he said.
Therefore, he said. parties in the coalition in the executive body must have the same spirit as those in the parliament.
Former president of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Tifatul Sembiring meanwhile said communication among coalition members and in the joint secretariat had to be improved to avoid misunderstandings.
He proposed a a review of the political commitment of the political parties in the government`s coalition signed in October 2009.
"If necessary the points are renewed. We make an agreement on it and sign it together. What is clear is whatever is the agreement to be made we must be committed to it in the future. We must never change our stand," he said.
Tifatul who is minister of communications and information also proposed separating those sitting in the coalition`s joint secretariat with those in the cabinet.
He said misunderstanding had happened because there was misunderstanding and a lack of communication among coalition members in the parliament in responding various issues that were developing very fast in the community.
The problem then spread to the cabinet creating an impression as if the cabinet had cracked.
"The problem so far is in the parliament. The problem recently also came from the parliament and then brought into the cabinet while actually we are solid in the cabinet. So the problem is not in the cabinet. It has been through the President`s evaluation," he said.
President Yudhoyono recently called on all parties who had joined the government`s coalition to respect their commitment and threatened to give sanctions who would not.
Two coalition members namely Golkar Party and PKS clashed with the Democrat Party to vote in favor of the motion for the House of Representatives (DPR) to use its right to inquiry to investigate alleged tax mafia.
The DPR finally voted against the demand with 166 votes against and 164 in favor.
Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie said after a meeting with President Yudhoyono recently his party would remain in the coalition.
(T.D013*P008/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
