PAN has no intention to bring govt down: Chairman

JAKARTA (Antara): Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Soetrisno Bachir said PAN had no intention to bring the government down but supported the president who has to finish his duty till the end of his tenure.

"No intention to bring the government down. The president which was directly elected by the people must work till the end of his tenure," Soetrisno told reporters Sunday.

Mass media earlier reported PAN lifted its support for the government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

However, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa of PAN denied the report as the party never issued any statement on its opposition to the government.

"We uphold democracy and support (the president) elected by the people and in 2009 we will soundly compete again in the general elections," he said.

According to Soetrsino, PAN is a free and critical party which is against government policies which are not in favor of the people.

"We will fairly support government programs taking side with the people," he said.

With such a position, he said, PAN could freely position itself to side with the people.

On his remark about revoking support for the government, Soetrisno said PAN was formerly a party supporting whatever government policies.

"It means that we also supported government policies which were not in favour of the people like those on the increase in fuel prices and rice imports, and now we are not like that and we have declared as an opposition freely and critically," he said.

He cited the PAN faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) had criticized the government for the current scarcity of kerosene in a number of areas in Indonesia while at the same time PAN cadres also moved to subsidize the purchase of kerosene for the people despite their limited capabilities. (**)