Kookmin Bank spokesman Choi In Seok declined to comment, as did Myrna Thomas, a spokeswoman at Temasek. Malayan Banking spokeswoman Celina May Benjamin wasn't immediately available.

"Mergers and acquisitions are an important part of Bank of China's overseas expansion strategy, and we are actively seeking takeover targets abroad," said Wang Zhaowen, a Beijing-based spokesman for Bank of China, the nation's third-largest. He declined to comment further.

Credit Suisse Group and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are advising Temasek. Spokespeople for the two investment banks declined to comment.

Malayan Banking, Malaysia's biggest bank, on March 7 said it's interested in buying Temasek's stake in Bank Internasional and that it has informed the fund.

Salaries in Indonesia may increase 11.3 percent this year, the second-fastest pace in Asia after India, according to human resources consultant ECA International. Last year's 6.3 percent economic expansion was the fastest in 11 years.