Martiono's installment off

Martiono's installment off

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro
Mangkusubroto has postponed installing Martiono Hadianto as
president of state oil and gas firm Pertamina from Monday until
Dec. 14.

Kuntoro said here on Saturday that he had decided to postpone
the installment ceremony given the fact that Pertamina celebrates
its anniversary on Thursday.

Martiono, who is currently director general of customs and
excise at the Ministry of Finance, will replace Soegianto, who
took the helm of the country's largest state company in January.

"There is no ulterior motive behind the replacement of
Soegianto. It is a normal change of leadership in the company,"
Kuntoro told journalists after accompanying Mobil Oil executives
to a meeting with President B.J. Habibie.

Kuntoro said Habibie chose Martiono from four candidates
proposed by a ministerial team including Coordinating Minister
for Development Supervision and Administrative Reforms Hartarto,
State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprise Tanri
Abeng, Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto, Minister/State
Secretary Akbar Tandjung and Kuntoro.

Kuntoro also denied rumors that the government has decided to
replace several Pertamina directors. (jsk)