TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ali Mundakir, spokesman for the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, said that Pertamina’s Board of Commissioner has appointed Pertamina's Upstream Director Muhammad Husein, to be company's acting Chief Executive. The appointment was carried out because Pertamina's general meeting of share holders have failed to come up with a replacement for Karen Agustiawan, who resigned from her position as Pertamina's Chief Executive on Wednesday, October 1.

"Ali Mundakir is officially acting Chief Executive starting October 1 2014 until the enactment of the a definitive chief executive by the general meeting of share holders," Ali said in the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprise office on Wednesday, October 1.

According to Ali, the general meeting of share holders that was held this morning at the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprise office, only presented a decree on Karen's official dismissal. The Board of Commissioner then named Husein as acting Chief Executive. However, the position of Upstream Director is mentioned to still be grasp by Husein. "Aside from the position of the upstream director, Husein also serves as acting chief executive with full authority," Ali said in a statement.

By definition of full authority, Ali explained, Husein is allowed to make strategic decisions despite of his acting position. Husein's will remain as acting chief executive until the general meeting of share holders managed to appoint a definitive chief executive.

KHAIRUL ANAM | AMOSS SIMANUNGKALIT