Oil investors suspected of playing a role behind Baihaki's nomination eb

Former legislator Ichsanuddin Noersy suspected foreign oil and gas investors of pushing the nomination of former president Caltex Pacific Indonesia Baihaki Hakim for state oil and gas company Pertamina's top job to protect their interests in the country, Media Indonesia reported.

"Such a 'recruitment' is very dangerous for the national interest," Noersy said in a seminar on Sunday.

Noersy called on the government to hold an open debate for all the candidates for the state company's leadership to ensure transparency in the selection of Pertamina's new leader.

Baihaki is one of the five candidates allegedly proposed by Pertamina's board of commissioners for Pertamina's top job.

Some reports said President Abdurrahman Wahid had signed a decree to appoint Baihaki as Pertamina's new leader before his world tour but the decree had yet to be announced. (*)