The hearing on the revision of the state budget was halted after a tense 90-minute debate between lawmakers, some disagreeing on principle with the presence of Mulyani because of her part in the decision to bail out Bank Century (now renamed Bank Mutiara).

Lawmaker Emir Moeis of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who chairs the House Commission XI overseeing financial affairs, decided to postpone the hearing until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

“We want to invite the coordinating minister for a more detailed discussion at the future meeting,” Emir said while closing the hearing. The debate was started by lawmaker Dolfi Ofp of the PDI-P just minutes after it had started, as Hatta had not shown up as promised by President Susilo Bambang Yudho-yono in a letter sent to the House speaker on March 26.

In the letter, Yudhoyono says that besides assigning the finance minister, he would also assign the coordinating economic minister, either alone or together, to represent the government in discussing the state budget.

This was the second time Mulyani had been rejected by lawmakers.

During a hearing with the House’s Budget Body last week, three lawmakers staged a walkout to express their disapproval of Mulyani.

Many lawmakers have threatened to boycott her after the House cast a 325-212 vote against the government’s (and in this case Mulyani’s) decision to bail out Bank Century, saying it led to legal violations.

Analysts said such a boycott would only harm the public as many economic policies could be stalled. They suggested lawmakers separate the Century case from other policies needed by the public, as Indonesia aimed to achieve 7 percent economic growth by 2014.

Meanwhile, Hatta said at the State Palace that the President’s letter had been misinterpreted. “The letter did not mean to replace Finance Minister Sri Mulyani. The letter was sent because the finance minister was in Hanoi accompanying the President at that time.”

Hatta said Yudhoyono had asked Mulyani to continue to attend future discussions on the revision of the state budget with House members.

“The President expects this process to be smooth in the future. [Mulyani] can attend [hearings] because the budget discussions are very important to all of us,” he said.

Mulyani also said Yudhoyono had questioned lawmakers’ attitudes in delaying the scheduled hearing.

The government needs to consult House Commission XI regarding macroeconomic assumptions stated in the proposed 2010 state budget revision, before it brings the proposed revision to the Budget Body.

During a hearing with the House’s Budget Body last week, three lawmakers staged a walkout to express their disapproval of Mulyani.

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