PAN denies attending key meeting in Cikeas

National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Rajasa is not among leaders of coalition partners attending a meeting reportedly underway at the private residence of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Cikeas in the West Java regency of Bogor.

Deputy PAN chairman Bima Arya Sugiarto said Hatta was holding a talk with the party’s secretary-general Taufik Kurniawan.

“I have sought clarification from the chairman [Hatta]. He is with the secretary-general, not in Cikeas,” Bima said as quoted by kompas.com.

He added there had been no plan to gather coalition partners for a meeting with President Yudhoyono as the coalition leader.

Idrus Marham, secretary-general of coalition partner the Golkar Party, said the meeting was held not to discuss the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the Bank Century bailout, which is closer to a finale.
 
Bima said the PAN would maintain its criticism of the bailout.

“There have been political lobbies and communication [on the inquiry], which are just common. Perhaps our friends from the Democratic Party want to exchange ideas,” Bima said, referring to the party founded by Yudhoyono.