PALACE SPOKESMAN UNABLE TO CONFIRM PERTAMINA CHIEF REPLACED

Batam, Jan 20 (ANTARA) - Presidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng was unable to confirm or deny a rumor that the chief of state-owned oil company PT Pertamina has been replaced following Sunday night's fire at the Plumpang fuel oil depot,
"I don't know. We are still out of Jakarta. You had better check it directly with the related minister," Malarangeng said at Hang Nadim airport here on Tuesday before returning to Jakarta as a member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's retinue during a two-day working visit in Batam.
Malarangeng said the fire at Plumpang in North Jakarta which happened early Monday morning was still under investigation.
"The results of the investigation should be reported to the president and, therefore, we just have to wait and see what will happen next," Malarangeng said.
Prior to his departure to Batam on Monday morning, President Yudhoyono held a meeting with several related ministers at Halim Perdanakusuma airport to discuss the fire.
On the occasion, the president asked the public not to make irresponsible speculations linking the Plumpang fuel oil depot fire with terrorist activity.
"I heard there are people who suggest the fire might be the work of terrorists. I appeal to them not to make further speculations," he said.
The president said the fire was possibly caused by a technical problem, namely a malfunctioning of a certain instrument in a fuel oil storage tank.
However, Yudhoyono had called for a thorough investigation into the incident to enable the public to know about the cause of the fire.
"But let us trust the investigators and the experts to find out the cause of the fire," he said.
The head of state reiterated that if the fire had been caused by a technical mistake, whoever was responsible for it would be liable to legal sanctions.
The president also called on the public to remain calm and not to panic by the fire as the relevant authorities had already been instructed to guarantee fuel oil distribution in Jakarta and environs.