Coalition ‘fragile’ over bank scandal

After only three months, the Democratic Party-led majority coalition at the House of Representatives seems too fragile to offer full political support to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s government amid the ongoing procedural investigation into the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$712 million) Bank Century bailout.

Like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerinda), legislators from the Golkar Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) asked pressing questions to witnesses in their attempt to uncover procedural violations in the bailout process.

Golkar’s Bambang Susatyo said his party was not part of the coalition and that it had its own agenda in the investigation.

“Ever since the presidential election, Golkar has been at loggerheads with the President and his party. The fact that several Golkar figures are in the cabinet is the result of out political lobbying,” he said.

Andi Rachmat of the PKS said his party’s main goal was to get to the bottom of the scandal by investigating it thoroughly.

“Unfortunately there is a price to pay because the Century case will implicate many [important] figures,” Andi said, adding the PKS wanted the whole process to be transparent.