Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 30 August 1995

46 articles found

Jasa Marga to introduce card system

Jasa Marga to introduce card system JAKARTA (JP): PT Jasa Marga, the state-run company assigned to manage all of Indonesia's toll roads, will issue prepaid cards for toll roads in a trial project beginning early next month. "The cards will be used by the company's personnel on Jakarta toll roads during the trial," the company's operations director, Bambang Sundjoyo, said on Monday.

Gathrering permits abolished

Gathrering permits abolished JAKARTA (JP): Most gatherings, including those that are political in nature, will soon no longer require permission from the authorities. The government announced yesterday that it is abolishing the permit requirements for virtually all kinds of gatherings. In many cases, notification to the police will suffice. However, for demonstrations and other activities in the streets which could disturb public order, official permits will still be required.

Pramoedya's wife to accept award

Pramoedya's wife to accept award JAKARTA (JP): The wife of writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer flew out of Jakarta for Manila yesterday to collect the Magsasay Award for literature on his behalf. Maemunah Thamrin, accompanied by her daughter Astuti Ananta and novelist Marianne Katoppo, flew out of Soekarno-Hatta airport on board a Singapore Airlines flight.

U.S. firm joins Adaro

U.S. firm joins Adaro JAKARTA (JP): Mission Energy Company, a subsidiary of SECcorp of the United States, has acquired 10 percent of the shares of PT Adaro Indonesia, an Indonesia-Australian coal mining company in South Kalimantan. "The acquisition of Adaro's stock was signed on Aug. 16," Mission Energy said in a statement here yesterday. Adaro, which is owned by New Hope Corp.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 29, 1995: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 2,400 0 0 AHAP Insurance 3,200 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 1,100 0 0 Andayani Megah 1,825 75 463,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 6,400 -100 10,000 Anwar Sierad 1,300 0 114,000 Aqua Golden Mississippi 2,400 0 0 Argha Karya Prima Industry 1,875 0 30,500 Argo Pantes 2,500 0 0 Asiana IMI Indusrties 925 0 0 Aster Dharma...

Laborer's rights

Laborer's rights From Merdeka The workers' demonstrations taking place in some industries in Surabaya and its surrounding areas are an indication that there are some companies still reluctant to abide by the instruction of the minister of manpower concerning the right of the workers to get a pay increase and be paid overwork. The pay increment will help alleviate the burden of the workers' lives.

Tycoons' commitment warmly welcomed

Tycoons' commitment warmly welcomed JAKARTA (JP): Last week's "Bali Declaration," in which business tycoons vowed to narrow the economic gap separating them from their smaller counterparts, has been warmly welcomed by politicians and observers, although many are anxious to see concrete follow-up.

Spotlight

Spotlight Photo A: Beatrix Hyatt Regency Surabaya QUEEN'S VISIT: Michael Kiehl, the general manager of Hyatt Regency Surabaya welcomes Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at his hotel last Wednesday. She visited the city during her 10-day tour of Indonesia. Photo B: Hotel Dai-ichi Hotel APPRECIATION PARTY: In commemoration of Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence, Dai-ichi Hotel Jakarta recently held The Golden Night of Appreciation party for its guests.

Violence mars boxing meet as Pino flops

Violence mars boxing meet as Pino flops JAKARTA (JP): Violence marred the President's Cup boxing championships here yesterday as an angry mob tried to assault a referee after home favorite Pino Bahari suffered an upset loss to Algerian Bahari Mohammed. The incident erupted when Taiwanese referee Chen gave middleweight title-holder Pino an eight standing count while the final bell rang. The Indonesian wobbled in the dying second after receiving a big blow from Mohammed.

Tribal people must plan own future: Senior official

Tribal people must plan own future: Senior official JAKARTA (JP): Tribal peoples in Indonesia must play an active role in planning their own future, while the role of outsiders is merely to provide them with various options, a senior official of the Ministry of Education and Culture said yesterday.

Higher fees reduce use of groundwater

Higher fees reduce use of groundwater JAKARTA (JP): Consumption of artesian-well water in Jakarta has fallen from 3.2 million cubic meters per month to 2.6 million cubic meters following a 150 percent to 250 percent increase last April of artesian-well water fees. Arifin Akbar, head of the City Mines Office, said that before the increase in fees, artesian-well water consumption tended to increase by 1.5 million cubic meters annually, Antara reported.

Speaker Wahono calls on lawmakers to introspect

Speaker Wahono calls on lawmakers to introspect JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly celebrated their 50th anniversary yesterday, with Speaker Wahono calling on the legislators to introspect about their performance. Wahono asked the lawmakers to ask themselves if they have carried out their mandate as the people's representatives and as part of a body established to launch democratization.

Firms need to implement environmental principles

Firms need to implement environmental principles JAKARTA (JP): The participation of government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Industry, is needed to encourage industrial companies to implement principles of sound environmental management, an environmental consultant says.

Keating to talk with Soeharto before APEC

Keating to talk with Soeharto before APEC CANBERRA (Reuter): Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating will travel to Indonesia next month for talks with President Soeharto ahead of November's APEC summit, Keating said on Tuesday. It will be Keating's fifth visit to Australia's northern neighbor since becoming prime minister in 1991. Keating is scheduled to meet Soeharto on Sept.

No retaliation necessary

No retaliation necessary From Media Indonesia We have to be very careful in reacting to the Indonesian flag burning incident in Australia. It is most probable that the action was not the final objective of the group. The main objective could be to create disharmony between Indonesia and Australia.

Laos, Cambodia may join ASEAN

Laos, Cambodia may join ASEAN MANILA (AFP): Cambodia and Laos could join the seven-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as early as 1997, and Myanmar in five years' time, Philippine President Fidel Ramos said yesterday. Vietnam joined the mainly economic grouping of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand last month, but ASEAN leaders want to eventually integrate all 10 southeast Asian economies under its umbrella.

Five police officers to be tried for robbery

Five police officers to be tried for robbery JAKARTA (JP): Police headquarters will bring a case against five police officers suspected of having been involved in a robbery in Glodok, West Jakarta, to the military tribunal if preliminary investigations find them guilty, police said. Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I Ketut Ratta told reporters yesterday that police headquarters has instructed the Jakarta police to complete its investigation on the case as soon as possible.

Kodel sets up hotel school

Kodel sets up hotel school JAKARTA (JP): Kodel Group, in cooperation with its business partners, will set up and operate a US$22.24 million integrated facility, consisting of a hotel and training and educational center, which is supported by the Singapore Hotel Association.

12 dead of dengue fever in Vietnam

12 dead of dengue fever in Vietnam HANOI (AFP): At least 12 people have died of dengue fever in the southern Vietnamese province of Ben Tre and some 2,500 people have been hit by the disease, a report said yesterday. The illness, caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites, has spread rapidly through the coastal area since the beginning of July, affecting mostly children aged between two and 14, the trades union newspaper Lao Dong said.

Dragon Bank warned

Dragon Bank warned JAKARTA (JP): The government will take measures against the representative office of Dragon Bank International Ltd. of Vanuatu if the bank is found to be engaging in commercial banking activities here.

Suryamas Dutamakmur to offer shares to public

Suryamas Dutamakmur to offer shares to public JAKARTA (JP): PT Suryamas Dutamakmur, a real estate developer, will offer 80 million new shares to the public next month to raise funds to finance the construction of two projects in Bekasi and Rancamaya, both in West Java, an executive said. The new shares will account for 15.27 percent of the company's enlarged capital, the company's president, Kenneth Lian, told reporters after a presentation to securities analysts yesterday.

Redundant posts may be abolished

Redundant posts may be abolished JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo has suggested that the government abolish many administrative posts pertaining to industry at both the provincial and regency levels which, he said, are redundant. Speaking at a workshop for officials of the Ministry of Industry, Tunky said Monday that currently there is a duplication of official posts, both at the provincial and regency levels, concerned with industrial matters.

Indonesian women

Indonesian women From Forum Keadilan I am responding to the Wanita Indonesia murahan (Indonesian women are cheap) letter published in Forum Keadilan, No. 8/IV/1995. As a native Indonesian, I disagree with how the writer assesses Indonesian women. How could the writer make such a generalization? Or does the writer only come across cheap women, allowing him to conclude that all women are as such. Or the writer might have had some bad experiences with Indonesian women and hence looks down on them.

Unity amid diversity

Unity amid diversity The greater and the more diverse a nation, the more an effective bond is needed to keep it unified. For this reason we can understand why President Soeharto, in front of some 120,000 participants in a grand gathering organized by the Majelis Taklim at the Istora Stadium at Senayan on Saturday once again reminded the nation of the necessity to maintain national unity and cohesion. There is no need for us to ask ourselves who the President's reminder was addressed to.

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, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Lost Morenitos, Monday Thursday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Los Paraguas, Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Boece & Ayu (pianist and singer), Tuesday to Saturday, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Jakarta String Fantasy Trio, Monday to Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Japanese bank to promote direct investment in RI

Japanese bank to promote direct investment in RI JAKARTA (JP): The Investment Coordinating Board and the Bank of Nagoya from Japan signed a general agreement yesterday to promote direct investment from Japan to Indonesia. "This is our fifth agreement of its kind signed so far with our Japanese counterparts," board chairman Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, who is also state minister for investment, said at the signing ceremony.

Traders oppose Matahari's plan

Traders oppose Matahari's plan JAKARTA (JP): Local traders look likely to keep Matahari, a large-scale retail store chain, from opening at outlet at Klender market. Soedradjat Soeleman, president of the city-owned market managing company PD Pasar Jaya, told reporters yesterday that Matahari will not be allowed to buy spaces at Klender market if its existence hurts the operation of traditional traders.

Grab reading skills to face challenges

Grab reading skills to face challenges By John Phillips This is the second of two articles on the teaching of English in Indonesian state schools. YOGYAKARTA (JP): In the previous article, I suggested that Indonesian schools were likely to continue to be ineffective in training students to speak English because the environment in and out of school did not support such efforts and the need for learning was not strong enough.

Yet another promise

Yet another promise Ninety-six Indonesian tycoons met from Aug. 25-27 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jimbaran, Bali, and have made their resolve public in the "Bali Declaration". The declaration contains seven points expressing their views, commitments, responsibilities and hopes for national development. While some parties have greeted the declaration with optimism, others remain skeptical. Such skepticism is only natural considering our past experience.

Number of poor people decreasing: Expert

Number of poor people decreasing: Expert JAKARTA (JP): The number of poor people in Indonesia has been decreasing rapidly the last 25 years, an expert said yesterday. In a seminar held at Open University, Nurimansjah Hasibuan, the university's School of Economics' dean said that, on the other hand, there are strong indications that the social gap has been increasing. He said the gap has been caused a concentration of wealth in certain hands.

Indonesia-Aussie relations

Indonesia-Aussie relations This letter is in regards to the recent events between Indonesia and Australia. I am an Englishman now living in Sydney, Australia, as an Australian citizen. I have traveled to many places in the world and lived and worked in other countries. I have also lived and worked for a short while in Indonesia, primarily in Jakarta, but have also traveled to other parts of Indonesia. I greatly enjoyed my time in Indonesia and have friends I keep in touch with.

Seven escape from jail

Seven escape from jail BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Seven of the eight inmates who escaped from prison were still at large and believed to be roaming in the dense forest in the area, Antara reported yesterday. Prison guards caught one of the escapees as soon as they were alerted of the jailbreak which took place in the early hours of last Friday, the report said, adding that the fugitives were serving two to three-year prison terms for various criminal offenses.

Govt raises radio paging target

Govt raises radio paging target JAKARTA (JP): The government revised yesterday its target of radio paging subscribers from one million to three million within the ongoing Sixth Five-Year Development Plan period which will end in March 1998. "I think one million is too small as we can focus on expanding the pager subscription market.

Sahid group builds 33-story tower

Sahid group builds 33-story tower JAKARTA (JP): The Sahid Jaya group has commenced the construction of a 33-story office building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta, which is expected to cost about US$86 million to complete. A ground-breaking ceremony was held yesterday to mark the start of construction work. The tower is expected to be completed by the end of 1997.

Siswono warns against govt complacency

Siswono warns against govt complacency JAKARTA (JP): Government officials should not indulge in self congratulatory practices over the impressive economic progress Indonesia has been making, nor should they become allergic towards criticisms, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

SilkAir, Bouraq tie up

SilkAir, Bouraq tie up JAKARTA (JP): SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and the privately-owned air carrier Bouraq Airlines will launch a non-stop air service between Singapore and Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, starting from Oct. 29. SilkAir said in a statement yesterday that under the agreement on the service, three-times weekly services will initially be operated utilizing a SilkAir aircraft and marketed by both SilkAir and Bouraq.

18 missing as ferry sinks

18 missing as ferry sinks DENPASAR, Bali: At least 18 people are feared drowned when a ferry linking Java's easternmost port of Ketapang with the tourist island of Bali sank on Monday evening, Antara reported yesterday. The ferry Trisila Pratama was carrying 29 passengers and 11 crew when the mishap took place, the report said but did not explain the cause of the accident.

Inco to build power plant

Inco to build power plant JAKARTA (JP): PT Intercontinental Nickel Indonesia (Inco) will build a 165 megawatt hydro-power station at Soroako, southern Sulawesi, to support its production expansion, an executive said yesterday. "We will invest US$600 million in the plant's expansion and the power station," Rumenagan Musu, the company's president, was quoted by Antara as saying in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

National cyclists to train in Australia

National cyclists to train in Australia JAKARTA (JP): An 18-strong national cycling team wants to fill the shoes of the Australian junior champions and win more gold medals during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand in December.

Ometraco's profit up 23.8%

Ometraco's profit up 23.8% JAKARTA (JP): Ometraco Corporation announced yesterday that its net profit increased by 23.85 percent to Rp 24.4 billion (US$10.8 million) in the first semester of this year from Rp 19.7 billion in the same period of last year.

AJI members tell court they spread no hatred

AJI members tell court they spread no hatred JAKARTA (JP): Two journalists accused of sowing hatred against the government through articles in the unlicensed Independen magazine denied all charges in a court session yesterday. Ahmad Taufik, 29, and Eko Maryadi, 27 -- both members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) -- told the judges in the Central Jakarta District Court that they only wrote facts in the articles of Independen.

Dept store opposed

Dept store opposed MEDAN, North Sumatra: The planned demolition of an old fish market to make way for a modern department store has raised concern among local people who fear that the new establishment might threaten their livelihoods, Antara reported yesterday.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:35 p.m. TV Series: Bridge of Adam Rush 3:05 Talk Show 3:30 Science Film 4:05 Around Us 4:30 Documentary Film 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Indonesian Lessons 6:05 Karya & Upaya 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Science Program 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Special Program: Paket Gatra 8:05 Miniseries: Di Balik Matahari 9:00 World News 9:30 Special Program: Gema Indonesia Emas 9:45 TV Drama: Mas Bedjo 11:05 Late News 11:15 Music Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Social inequality still worrisome, observer says

Social inequality still worrisome, observer says SOLO, Central Java (JP): Disparities in wealth between various social groups remain a matter of concern 50 years after Indonesia achieved independence, according to a leading intellectual. Franz von Magnis-Suseno says greed on the part of government officials and their families causes social gaps to widen and is a serious problem.

Big Mountain to perform here

Big Mountain to perform here JAKARTA (JP): Big fans of reggae music will be happy to hear that Big Mountain is coming to town. The American reggae group, whose remake of Baby I Love Your Way was popular in the United States, is scheduled to perform here on Sept.13 at M Club in the Blok M area, South Jakarta. The concert is part of the group's Southeast Asian tour and a promo for their new album entitled Unity, which was released this year.

Networks reduce TV violence

Networks reduce TV violence JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's commercial television stations have begun phasing out violence on the air to comply with a government appeal, despite its popularity with viewers as well as advertisers. A. Alatas Fahmi, director of operations at Television Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI), told Antara yesterday that commercial network executives now hold periodic meetings to review the state of the industry, which have resulted in a move to reduce the amount of violence in films.