Haji Amidan, a spokesman for the Golkar faction at the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest constitutional body, said that by allowing the deal Megawati could "potentially" violate laws on national defence, international agreement and Bulog."

Megawati signed the 197 million dollar agreement to purchase four Sukhoi jet fighters and two Mi-35 helicopters with President Vladimir Putin during her visit to Russia in April.

The deal apparently bypassed normal procedures because parliament and the defence ministry were not involved.

"The Sukhoi case not only shows the inconsistency of the government but also its weakness on how to coordinate policies (among state agencies)," Amidan told legislators in Golkar's report to the parliament on the second day of the MPR annual session.

A parliamentary committee is investigating the deal.

Analysts speculate that Golkar, the second largest party in parliament with 120 seats to Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle's 153, is trying to capitalise on the controversial deal to embarrass Megawati before elections next year.

Under the deal Indonesia will pay 13.5 percent in cash, with the balance to be settled through trade in 11 commodities, including palm oil and rubber.

Money for the down-payment were to come from the food agency Bulog, whose funds have been at the centre of several previous political scandals.

WAR.WIRE