After struggling to hang on to its ministerial positions in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Cabinet, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) appeared to have resigned to the possibility that at least one of its Cabinet ministers would be dismissed.
After days of tough talking to Yudhoyono — asking the President to kick the PKS out of the ruling coalition — PKS spokesperson Mardani Ali Sera said on Monday that the party would defer any final decision taken by the President.
“It his [Yudhoyono] prerogative,” Mardani told reporters at the House of Representatives on Monday, insisting that his party remains part of the ruling coalition.
“I can’t elaborate on the details now because the discussion is still ongoing. However, I must ensure that from the very beginning and up until 2014, the PKS is committed to supporting the government’s programs,”
he said.
The PKS, in a House plenary session, rejected a governmental plan to increase the price of fuel.
Following the plenary session executives of the Democratic Party and others in the ruling coalition called for the Muslim party’s exit from the Cabinet.
Democratic Party executive chairman Syarief Hasan urged the PKS to take the initiative and leave the coalition due to its “blatant” opposition to the government.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party deputy chairperson and leader of the party faction at the House, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, said that it would be better for the PKS to leave the coalition because it does not support the government’s policies.
The PKS now has three ministers in the Cabinet: Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Agriculture Minister Suswono and Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri.
Speculation is rife that Yudhoyono will sack Suswono to punish the PKS. Yudhoyono has a convenient reason to fire Suswono due to his role in the beef importation scandal, which also involved former PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.
It is expected that Yudhoyono would likely announce another Cabinet reshuffle this week.
Unconfirmed reports say that all ministers in Yudhoyono’s Cabinet are barred from leaving town in anticipation of the impending reshuffle.
Both Tifatul and Salim said they would adhere to any decision made by Yudhoyono.
Tifatul had earlier said he was ready to be dismissed from the Cabinet. On Monday, Salim said he was ready to accept any decision, including dismissal, that the President might make.
“I’m ready [to accept the consequences]. The President’s decision is his prerogative and no one can interfere,” Salim said in Pangkep, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha suggested last week that another Cabinet reshuffle was possible and that the PKS should be ready for it.
However, Democratic Party’s honor council chairman Amir Syamsuddin, who is also Law and Human Rights minister, denied the rumors that Yudhoyono would soon announce a Cabinet reshuffle.
“I haven’t been asked to arrange details for the plan,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting at the House on Monday, declining to elaborate.
by:Margareth S. Aritonang
source:http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/06/25/pks-prepares-lose-ministers-cabinet-shake-looms.html
