"So far, PKS is still in the coalition," Luthfi said here on Saturday. He made his remarks during the launch of a book by Communications and Informatics Minister Tifatul Sembiring, a minister from PKS.
According to Luthfi, there is no need for all coalition members to attend the joint secretariat meeting, which was held at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s Cikeas private residence on Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
He said that the joint secretariat chairman had the right to invite a number of its members to discuss matters relating to the execution of government programs.
"It is the president`s right to do that and we fully understand it," Luthfi said.
He added that all political parties had their own respective agreements when they supported the nomination of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a presidential hopeful.
According to the PKS president, all agreements regarding the coalition have also been regulated in the code of conduct of the coalition.
Asked if PKS membership in the coalition would eventually be terminated, the PKS president said he would not speculate on the readiness of his party to pull out of the alliance because he believes PKS had no problems with the coalition.
Regarding PKS` opposition to the government`s plan to raise fuel oil prices on April 1, 2012, he said PKS and the government shared the same view of seeking to improve the welfare of the people.
"PKS is willing to improve the people`s welfare. The government and other parties in the coalition are also willing to do so. And in reality, the government has canceled the plan, so what problem is there?" he asked.
He further said that the recent conflict was a result of a lack of communicating among coalition members.
"Because we lack communications, then we were involved in a conflict," he added.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
