Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 20 January 1995

46 articles found

Make Jakarta more humane

Make Jakarta more humane From Pelita A few months ago, Jakarta's Governor commented that the office buildings in Jakarta are separated from society because they are fenced in and guarded by security personnel. According the Governor, this gives the impression that the users of the buildings are not friendly and humane. Yet the Jakarta Metropolitan Administration can do nothing about it. In another area many pedestrians are caught for violating traffic regulations and fined accordingly.

Court asked to ignore bus driver's lawyers

Court asked to ignore bus driver's lawyers JAKARTA (JP): The state prosecutor in the trial of Ramses Silitonga, the driver of a Metromini bus that plunged into the Sunter river in North Jakarta last year, killing 34 passengers, has asked the judge yesterday to ignore the statement of the defendant's lawyer. "The lawyer's statement saying that my indictment was exaggerated cannot be used as a reason to declare that my indictment is wrong in law," prosecutor H.P.W Soekewi said.

Pinning hopes on tourism

Pinning hopes on tourism Consider Indonesia's vast territorial expanse, its rich and diverse cultural heritage, its thousands of miles of sandy palm- fringed beaches, its verdant land, and the expectation that tourism will become this country's biggest foreign exchange earner by around the turn of the century will seem entirely justified. Like many other industries, Indonesia's tourist industry has experienced ups and downs over the past few decades.

PAM Jaya, British firm plan project

PAM Jaya, British firm plan project JAKARTA (JP): The city water company, PAM Jaya, in cooperation with Thames Water International from Britain are to set up a water project worth over Rp 1 trillion (approximately US$457 million). A two-year study for the proposed project will be carried out shortly, following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding in London between the British company with its local partner, PT Kekar Plastindo, and the state-owned Jatiluhur Dam Authority Company.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Kubuto 3:05 Langka & Unik 3:30 Science Program 4:00 School Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 4:30 TV Series: Developing Stories 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Culture Program 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:45 You Should Know 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Dinamika 8:05 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Asian Entertainment Shower 10:35 Late News 10:45 Film Program 2 4:30 p.m.

U.S. firms get $7b in contracts from India

U.S. firms get $7b in contracts from India BOMBAY (AFP): U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown said here yesterday that U.S. companies had signed contracts worth a total of US$7 billion during what he described as a "tremendously successful" visit to India.

Police suspicious of Oki's confession

Police suspicious of Oki's confession JAKARTA (JP): City police are looking for more material evidence and witnesses in Los Angeles to charge Hernoko Dewanto, alias Oki, for his alleged role in an L.A. triple murder, says Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto. "As of today, we still have not charged Oki for the killing because we're still looking for more material evidence and witnesses to support his confession," the outgoing Jakarta police chief told a press conference yesterday.

Tour of duties in Bengkulu

Tour of duties in Bengkulu BENGKULU, Bengkulu: Governor Adjis Ahmad installed yesterday 220 senior and middle level officials in a major reshuffle which he had promised after assuming office in July last year. "The tour of duties is part of my consolidation efforts," he told journalists after the inauguration ceremony. He said he is planning more reshuffling in the top echelon "to put the right man in the right place", Antara reported.

Golf tournament for blind school

Golf tournament for blind school JAKARTA (JP): Yayasan Merpati Putih Abadi will hold a golf tournament on Jan. 29 at the Pantai Indah Kapuk Golf Course, North Jakarta, to help raise funds for setting up a special international school for the blind. The foundation's Budi Santoso said the school would in the first instance accommodate 30 foreign students, who would be charged US$50,000 each for an 18-month course on how to walk without sticks, read, identify objects and colors.

Rates, tax and credit affect property market

Rates, tax and credit affect property market JAKARTA (JP): Increasing interest rates, the imposition of a luxury tax on property sales and the government's call for limited credit expansion will affect the property market this year, a property consultant said. Craig Williams, a director at the international property consultant company Jones Lang Wootton Asia, told journalists yesterday that the sector most hit would be the residential market.

KL bans RI's 'kue lapis'

KL bans RI's 'kue lapis' JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia has banned 10 brands of kue lapis, a traditional Indonesian cake, saying they contain too many preservatives that could endanger lives. The move was announced by Minister of Health Lee Kim Sai in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Antara reported. The report did not give the names of the 10 affected brands but said they originated from manufacturers located in Banda Aceh, Medan and Jakarta.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * The Aryaduta Jakarta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Bonauli vocal group, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Lost Morenitos, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Amir (pianist), Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Jakarta String Fantasy Trio, Monday to Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday from 12:30 p.m.

$1.3 wage rise too much

$1.3 wage rise too much PEMALANG, Central Java: An estimated 60 percent of companies throughout the province are unable to pay the standard daily minimum wage of Rp 3,000 (US$1.3), Governor Soewardi said. According to Soewardi, approximately 30 percent of companies in the province are small-scale home industries which are financially weak, Antara reported. The government has raised the minimum daily wage level in Central Java from Rp 2,850 to Rp 3,000 effective as of April 1.

Alleged defection may worsen conflict in PDI

Alleged defection may worsen conflict in PDI CIAWI, West Java (JP): The rival executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) claimed yesterday that party secretary general Alexander Litaay has defected to its camp. Rival board chairman Jusuf Merukh told journalists that party rebels, who ended a three-day meeting here yesterday, had appointed Litaay a deputy chairman of the rival board.

Workers demand wage raise

Workers demand wage raise JAKARTA (JP): Around 150 workers of CV Matahari Terbit marched to the City Council building yesterday to air their grievances over the shoe and sandal company's unwillingness to comply with the government's decision to raise the minimum daily wage. Iwan.S, one of the workers, said they filed a complaint with the City Council in hopes of pressuring the company's management to meet their demands, Antara reported.

S'pore interbank rate negative

S'pore interbank rate negative SINGAPORE (AFP): Interbank rates have slipped into the negative in Singapore with banks charging other banks to park funds overnight, bankers said yesterday. "There are a lot of excess funds in the market and not enough borrowers," said Andrew Chan, a senior money market dealer at Deutsche Bank AG. The interbank rate for overnight deposits has been between negative 0.0625 percent and zero for the past two-and-a-half weeks to deter depositors, said Chan.

'Marcos estate should pay $770m'

'Marcos estate should pay $770m' HONOLULU, Hawaii (Reuter): A jury on Wednesday ordered the estate of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to pay about US$770 million in compensatory damages to 10,000 Filipino dissidents said to have suffered torture and other atrocities under his rule. The U.S. District Court panel had ordered the estate to pay $1.2 billion in punitive damages last February.

Jakarta will likely build subway to ease traffic

Jakarta will likely build subway to ease traffic JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta is almost certain to choose the subway system as the most favorable alternative to help solve the increasingly complicated problem of the city's public transportation. Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said "I have heard of the government's decision to build the 10.3 kilometer subway, linking Blok M in South Jakarta and downtown Kota in West Jakarta," Antara reported yesterday.

Strong figure needed to lead KONI

Strong figure needed to lead KONI JAKARTA (JP): A strong and disciplined leader is needed at the helm of the National Sports Council (KONI) if Indonesia wants to improve its sports performance, according to a renowned sports expert. "Such a leader will encourage the striving for the highest achievement among athletes," Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, who has been much involved in national sports development for 30 years, said yesterday.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange JAKARTA (JP): Trading remained sluggish on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) yesterday, with most shares losing ground in moderate transactions. The significant increase in prices of Barito and Gudang Garam shares, however, saved the JSX Composite Index from falling to end the day nearly two points higher at 451.78.

Taxi fares at Gambir station

Taxi fares at Gambir station From Media Indonesia The taxi services at Gambir railway station are very disappointing. Most of them do not want to use their meters and charge the potential passengers twice or three times what the metered fare would be. They argue that they have to wait long periods in the station and have to pay a parking fee of Rp 1000. Passengers having only hand luggage can go a little further away from the station and take a taxi that happens to be passing by.

Land dispute in Cengkareng Timur

Land dispute in Cengkareng Timur JAKARTA (JP): More than 700 squatters living on the land owned by the state-run housing developer Perum Perumnas, in Cengkareng Timur, have received their compensation money and are now willing to permit the demolition of their houses.

India, Indonesia caution against trade-labor link

India, Indonesia caution against trade-labor link NEW DELHI (AFP): Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Indonesian President Soeharto yesterday cautioned against western attempts to link international trade with labor standards in the changing global economy. They spelled out their stand on the first day of a conference on labor in the Indian capital where a message by Soeharto was read out to delegates from nearly 80 developing countries.

RI, Finland to promote cooperation

RI, Finland to promote cooperation JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari agreed yesterday to improve ties and further promote economic activity between Indonesia and Finland. During a meeting at Merdeka Palace yesterday, the two- presidents agreed to increase economic cooperation and improve upon the marginal value of two-way trade which currently stands at about US$300 million.

Quake-struck Liwa rebuilt

Quake-struck Liwa rebuilt JAKARTA: Funding for the reconstruction of nine private schools and three markets, affected by an earthquake last year, was handed over to the local government by funding agencies yesterday. The reconstruction of traditional markets was funded by the United Nations Development Program and Australia, while the schools by Britain, Norway and New Zealand, through the Geneva- based UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

Water shortages

Water shortages From Media Indonesia I'd like to inform the Drinking Water Company (PAM Jaya) in Jakarta that Blok A, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, often has to go without tap water, sometimes for four days in one month. We don't usually have water from the tap before midnight, and the quality of the water is poor. We hope the New Year will bring the needed change, and that the quality of the water will improve. EFI NEFIYANTI Jakarta

Govt will enforce measures to boost tourist industry

Govt will enforce measures to boost tourist industry JAKARTA (JP): The government will soon enforce coordinated measures to boost the tourist industry into becoming the country's biggest foreign exchange earner by the early 2000s.

Govt orders 'Sarinah' to resolve conflict

Govt orders 'Sarinah' to resolve conflict JAKARTA (JP): The government has ordered the management of Sarinah, a women's magazine, to suspend publication until it has resolved an internal conflict that has already confused readers. A split in the management has resulted in the publication of two versions of Sarinah's Jan. 23 edition.

AIDS-infected tourist in Bali

AIDS-infected tourist in Bali DENPASAR, Bali: A foreign tourist known to be infected with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has left the tourist island but local officials and doctors remain tight- lipped about identity of the holidaymaker. They refuse even to disclose the sex of the tourist, who spent several days in Bali under close surveillance by local authorities until the holidaymaker left on Jan. 17.

Garuda Indonesia gets new president

Garuda Indonesia gets new president JAKARTA (JP): Approaching its 26th anniversary next Thursday, the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will have its new president, Supandi, sworn in today. A company spokesman, Jansius Siahaan, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto is scheduled to swear in Soepandi, 58, as the airline's president, replacing Wage Mulyono.

Sampoerna's profit up 129%

Sampoerna's profit up 129% JAKARTA (JP): HM Sampoerna, a publicly listed cigarette maker, estimates that its after tax profit for 1994 increased by 129 percent to Rp 241 billion (US$109.54 million) over the previous year. Executives also told the company's shareholders at an annual meeting here Wednesday that according to a yet to be audited report the firm's net sales grew by 52 percent to Rp 1.35 billion in 1994.

Careful monetary policy reaffirmed

Careful monetary policy reaffirmed JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Soedradjad Djiwandono announced last night an estimated robust economic growth of seven percent for last year but re-emphasized the imperative need for a cautious monetary policy and continued consolidation of the banking industry. Soedradjad told the Annual Bankers' Meeting that since last year's economic growth was fueled largely by the domestic market demand, inflationary pressures were consequently very strong.

Cable firm raises capital

Cable firm raises capital JAKARTA (JP): PT Supreme Cable Manufacturing Corporation (Sucaco), a major cable and formica manufacturer, will increase its authorized capital from the present level of Rp 50 billion to Rp 225 billion (US$102.08 million).

Garuda to hold painting event

Garuda to hold painting event JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will hold a painting competition for children at its maintenance facility at Soekarno-Hatta airport on Jan. 29. According to the firm's public relations section, the competition will be held in conjunction with the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the company and the 50 anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.

Driving in Jakarta streets

Driving in Jakarta streets I'd like to respond to the letter entitled Never ending story by Christian Wilhelmi in The Jakarta Post, Jan. 19, 1995. I felt extremely sorry reading about your experience of the unsuccessful chase of the President taxi driver. What the heck, let it go! From your name I could not guess where you come from, but it seems to me that you come from a well-organized, developed country where you can possibly chase and catch other cars. Jakarta is, however, a different place.

Judge examines heroin smuggled from Thailand

Judge examines heroin smuggled from Thailand JAKARTA (JP): Judge Tuaraja Siregar examined 29 kilograms of heroin at the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office yesterday as evidence in the trial of Freddy A Thing, a local man allegedly involved in smuggling the contraband. "I needed to inspect the heroin firsthand because I wanted to see if the defendant, Freddy, would acknowledge it as evidence in this case. The inspection is also necessary in helping to make a verdict," Judge Tuaraja said.

Killer dog Le Roc to die

Killer dog Le Roc to die KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A killer Rottweiler, which underwent two months of police rehabilitation after being spared by the court, is now to die as it was found to harbor a hatred of women, local reports said yesterday. "The federal investigation department director Mohamaed Said Awang has now given the go-ahead to put Le Roc to sleep as it has failed to respond to the rehabilitation," the New Straits Times English daily reported.

Use debts productively

Use debts productively What caused the Mexican financial crisis? The larger part of the inflowing foreign capital was not being used productively. As soon as signs of a crisis appeared, the money fled abroad. The country's foreign exchange reserves, which fell from US$30 billion to $6 billion, was also not being used productively. It was used to bolster the peso and to import consumption goods. The matter of economic productivity was once again mentioned by Prof.

Thailand ready for big summit (2)

Thailand ready for big summit (2) By Vitit Muntarbhorn This is the second installment of a two-part article on social development issues in Thailand. BANGKOK: What should be Thailand's expectations from the World Social Development Summit and from itself in preventing and remedying the consequences of poverty and the lack of equity? Thailand should demand the following from the international community at the world summit: 1.

Former leader advises HMI to quit politics

Former leader advises HMI to quit politics JAKARTA (JP): On the eve of an important congress of the influential Association of Islamic Students, one of its former leaders said the organization should not indulge in practical politics the way it had in the past. "It's time for the association to get back to the campus," Akbar Tanjung, the association's chairman between 1971 and 1974, told the Antara news agency.

Edi denies rifle deal with Australia

Edi denies rifle deal with Australia JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Security and Defense Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat dismissed as untrue an Australian press report yesterday suggesting that Indonesia was considering the purchase of Australian-made Steyr assault rifles. "We've never had any plan to buy assault rifles from Australia, neither in large nor small volume because we are already producing our own rifles," Edi was quoted by the Antara news agency as telling reporters. "What deal?

Street traders want expulsion put off until Idul Fitri

Street traders want expulsion put off until Idul Fitri JAKARTA (JP): A group of sidewalk vendors operating along Jl. Matraman Raya in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, went to the office of the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday to complain about the city administration's plan to expel them from the area. The delegation consisting of 63 vendors was led by Masrizal, coordinator of the Jatinegara sidewalk traders. They were received by the Commission's secretary general Baharuddin Lopa.

Discriminating treatment

Discriminating treatment From Sinar The person who is subjected to the most severe discrimination is probably the one who is regarded as "socially unclean." Being "socially unclean" means that the person is either directly involved in the G-30-S/PKI movement, or a member of the banned party, or its social organizations. Also a person is considered "socially unclean" if his parents or father-in-law are related to the banned communist party.

Beggars in Nias island

Beggars in Nias island From Kompas Some time ago people were expressing their concerns over the existence of beggars in Nias island, North Sumatra. I have the following comments. Nias island is an isolated region. The easiest way to reach the island is by plane, and tourist destinations like Bawomataluo Village, Legundi beach and Soroake. Both domestic and foreign tourists love to visit the attractions and enjoy the natural beauty of the island.

Harmoko expects no press bans in 1995

Harmoko expects no press bans in 1995 JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko hopes he won't be forced to revoke any press publishing licenses this year, but has stressed that publications must also abide by the rules. "I hope there will be no revocations of SIUPP in 1995," Harmoko said yesterday, using the acronym for the press licenses issued which are issued by the government.

Young musician's debut impressive

Young musician's debut impressive By Gus Kairupan JAKARTA (JP): Hendry Wijaya is the name of a young pianist that deserves to be remembered.