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)