Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 January 1996

46 articles found

Indonesian Davis Cup team improves

Indonesian Davis Cup team improves JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Davis Cup team has improved their physical fitness, Indonesian tennis coach Deddy Prasetyo announced yesterday. The Davis Cup team is made up of Suwandi, Eddy Kusdaryanto, Donny Susetyo and Adrian Raturandang. They will play South Korea here between Feb. 9 and Feb. 11. "Donny and Eddy are in tip-top shape, but Suwandi and Adrian still must improve their physical fitness," Deddy said.

Kotjo under pressure

Kotjo under pressure SINGAPORE (Reuter): Several companies related to Indonesian businessman Johanes Kotjo plunged in active afternoon trading yesterday, dealers said. At 07:54 GMT, marine engineering group Van Der Horst, of which Kotjo is chairman, was down Singapore 45 cents to S$6.05 after touching a low of S$5.95. Volume was an active 1.02 million shares. Its warrants were also down 45 cents to S$5.10.

Swiss Bank sells stake

Swiss Bank sells stake JAKARTA (JP): Lippo Group agreed yesterday to take over Swiss Bank Corporation's 17.2 percent stake in the publicly-listed PT Lippo Securities. Lippo Group announced that the takeover raised the group's stake in the listed securities company to 67.3 percent. Swiss Bank is planning to establish a majority-owned securities company in Indonesia and has recently appointed Renee Zecha as a senior consultant in Indonesia.

'Barong' exhibit to be held

'Barong' exhibit to be held DENPASAR, Bali: Eighty artists from Java and Bali will showcase their interpretations of the mythical barong and legong dances in an exhibit entitled Legong-Barong-Self-Portrait. The joint exhibit, to be opened by the governor of Bali on Jan. 28, will be held at the Danlin Gallery in Mas, Ubud village until Feb. 28.

Thatcher meets with Ramos

Thatcher meets with Ramos MANILA (AFP): Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher met with Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday and discussed economic development and terrorism, a cabinet official said.

Britons shared a life jacket to stay alive

Britons shared a life jacket to stay alive JAKARTA (JP): Two Britons who survived the sinking of the KPM Gurita ferry off Aceh on Friday recounted how they clung to almost anything that floated to stay alive. Steve Nicholson and girlfriend Caroline Harrison, both Londoners and 34 years old, were two of the five foreigners aboard the ill-fated ferry who survived the ordeal after spending hours in the sea.

RI gets aid from Germany

RI gets aid from Germany JAKARTA (JP): Germany agreed yesterday to allocate a loan of DM 110.000,000 (US$76.3 million) for various power and health projects in Indonesia. Under a financial cooperation agreement signed here yesterday, the projects will include barge-mounted diesel power plants and the improvement of a class D hospital and health referral system in Nusa Tenggara.

Bukit Asam builds $3.9m briquette plant

Bukit Asam builds $3.9m briquette plant JAKARTA (JP): State-run coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam is building a coal briquette plant in Gresik, East Java, to anticipate the growing need for the fuel by small industry and households, a senior minister said yesterday.

'District' poll system more suitable for RI: Experts

'District' poll system more suitable for RI: Experts SEMARANG (JP): Political observers are speaking in favor of change in the electoral system, from the current proportional representation to the district system, because the latter is more likely to produce "people-oriented" legislators. Ali Mufiz and Kahar Badjuri, both lecturers at the Diponegoro University here, agreed that the district, or first-past-the- post, system was "quite ideal" to be implemented in Indonesia.

TV networks face tough competition

TV networks face tough competition JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's five commercial television stations will face fiercer competition for ad revenues this year, said Yanti B. Sugarda of PT Surindo Utama on Saturday. Yanti, whose company conducts research on ad spending, said that the two relative newcomers, ANteve and Indosiar, will be more aggressive in their programming this year to win a bigger share of advertising spending.

SIER to promote small industries

SIER to promote small industries SURABAYA, East Java (JP): The state-owned PT Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER) has tied up with German consulting firm GITEC to establish an engineering center to assist small and medium industrial firms here.

Lee Kuan Yew to leave hospital

Lee Kuan Yew to leave hospital SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore patriarch Lee Kuan Yew was out of intensive care and reported to be doing well yesterday after treatment for a narrowed coronary artery. Financial markets, which some feared would drop because Lee was in hospital, appeared unaffected. The prime minister's office said Lee was recuperating and "generally well". The brief statement said he was expected to remain in hospital "for another day or two".

Shares of listed firms to grow by 21 percent

Shares of listed firms to grow by 21 percent JAKARTA (JP): Market research conducted by Kleinwort Benson Ltd. predicted that the earnings per share (EPS) of public companies listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are to grow by 21 percent this year, down from an estimated 35 percent last year.

Permadi offers to campaign for smallest party

Permadi offers to campaign for smallest party JAKARTA (JP): Controversial soothsayer Permadi Satrio Wiwoho has declared his support and readiness to become a vote-getter for the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in the 1997 general election. "I am ready to campaign for PDI," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone yesterday, adding that he was prompted by what he saw as the unfair treatment of PDI by the government.

Monas park proposed for vendors during Ramadhan

Monas park proposed for vendors during Ramadhan JAKARTA (JP): A councilor urged the city administration yesterday to use the National Monument (Monas) park as a center for street vendors during the current fasting month of Ramadhan. Hasan Dasy, a councilor from the commission B for economic affairs, said that the city administration should give street vendors a place to do their businesses during Ramadhan and Monas is an appropriate choice.

Artist Bramasto dies of heart attack

Artist Bramasto dies of heart attack JAKARTA (JP): Popular painter Bramasto died of a heart attack here last Friday (Jan.19). Born in Malang (East Java) 55 years ago, Bramasto started his artistic career in l957 when he entered the Fine Art school in his home town. In l960, he began exhibiting his works in several Asian and European countries. Since then, Bramasto has been active in a large number of joint and solo exhibitions both in Indonesia and abroad.

Preventing disasters

Preventing disasters Since the very beginning of this year we have been rocked by a series of disasters. Floods engulfed Jakarta. Fires destroyed scores of homes in Penjaringan, North Jakarta and the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta. Then a trainer aircraft crashed into a market in Bandung. And late last week the ferry Gurita sank in the waters off Weh Island in Aceh, with 210 people on board. Natural disasters are almost impossible to predict.

Rebels free one hostage, but still hold 13 others

Rebels free one hostage, but still hold 13 others JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya separatist rebels released one of their 14 hostages yesterday after the deadline given by the military to release everyone had passed. They were still holding 13, including six Europeans, who were abducted in the Mapunduma village in Irian Jaya on Jan. 8.

Hazing program an outdated concept

Hazing program an outdated concept From Media Indonesia I read in Kompas (Jan. 11, 1996) about the death of a student after enduring initiation rites at the Bandung Institute of Technology. This was not the first time someone died at the hands of the university's student orientation program, called Ospek. I am not blaming any single university for the harmful program because almost all universities have similar traditions of breaking in new students.

Woman tried for using stolen card

Woman tried for using stolen card JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court began trying a woman yesterday for allegedly cheating several stores by using a stolen credit card. Prosecutor Elmalana said that Desi Puspitasari, 25, used a credit card belonging to Han M. Thio to buy a set of jewelry, shoes, a belt and a watch, causing City Bank financial losses of over Rp 7 million. The defendant found Han's unsigned credit card on Jl. Pasir Putih in North Jakarta.

Wimar will meet fans in new show

Wimar will meet fans in new show JAKARTA (JP): Fans of Wimar Witoelar's Perspektif television talk show, rejoice! Wimar is now switching to radio and his program, Perspektif Baru, will be broadcasted every Wednesday and Friday. The first program will be aired tomorrow at 5 p.m. featuring noted economist Dr. Sjahrir on Radio M97 (97.05 FM), Kompas reported.

'Holdup' by Moroccans denied

'Holdup' by Moroccans denied JAKARTA (JP): The Moroccan embassy denied yesterday the alleged role of five of its citizens in a robbery on the city's well-known tourist street, Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta. "They're clean and had been released already on Saturday," second secretary of the embassy, Atlassi, told The Jakarta Post by telephone.

Navy continues search operation

Navy continues search operation JAKARTA (JP): The Navy is continuing the search for possible survivors from the ferry which sank off Aceh on Friday, although officials admitted that the likelihood of finding anyone alive after four days is slim. By yesterday 52 people were found dead, 40 rescued and at least 118 were missing. First reports said that there were 210, including 16 crewmen, on board the Gurita when it sank on its way from Kreungraya in Aceh to Balohan on Weh Island.

Logistic agency supplies red chilies for Jakarta

Logistic agency supplies red chilies for Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): The National Logistic Agency (Bulog) has supplied 18 tons of red chilies to markets in Jakarta in a bid to curb the soaring price of the commodity, said the agency head, Beddu Amang. The "imports" of red chili started about 10 days ago following the increase in demand, he said yesterday. The price of red chili started to drop to Rp 10,000 per kilogram as of yesterday.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 22, 1996: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 675 -25 1,000 AHAP Insurance 3,200 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 1,375 0 0 Andayani Megah 1,875 100 717,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 6,100 0 0 Anwar Sierad 1,125 0 125,500 Aqua Golden Mississippi 1,500 0 0 Argha Karya Prima Industry 2,075 0 102,500 Argo Pantes 1,900 0 0 Asahimas Flat 2,775 25 1,133,500 Asiana IMI...

Cake bazaar held to greet Ramadhan

Cake bazaar held to greet Ramadhan BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The city administration has erected 135 semi-permanent stalls for traders to sell various traditional cakes as breaking of the fast snacks. Opened yesterday to coincide with the start of the Ramadhan fasting month, the cake fair will feature delicacies with exotic names such as wadai Pacah di ilat (cakes which crumble at the tip of one's tongue) and bingka kentang (rice flour and potato cakes). Head of the local tourism office, H.

Malaysia firm on Viet repatriation

Malaysia firm on Viet repatriation KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia will not change its decision to repatriate Vietnamese illegal immigrants and has criticized the third countries for failing to keep their promise to take the refugees, the New Straits Times reported yesterday. The newspaper quoted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying on Sunday that although the government sympathized with the plight of the illegal immigrants, there was a limit to it.

Expatriates' pay nears $200 million

Expatriates' pay nears $200 million JAKARTA (JP): Nearly US$200 million is being paid out each month to more than 57,100 expatriates working in Indonesia, with figures expected to continue rising in the near future, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said yesterday. In 1995, the government issued 57,159 official work permits to foreigners. This number represents a 38 percent increase over the previous year's total of 41,422, Latief said.

Mother of Timor activist pines

Mother of Timor activist pines DILI, East Timor: The mother of Isabel Gailhos, an exchange student in Canada who refused to come home and then joined an anti-Indonesia movement there, says she misses the girl. "I miss her and want to see her," Teresa Gailhos told Indonesian Ambassador to Canada Benyamin Parwoto, who was visiting her on Saturday.

Shans fleeing Myanmarese army harassment

Shans fleeing Myanmarese army harassment BANGKOK (Reuter): Hundreds of people are fleeing northeastern Myanmar's Shan state claiming harassment by Myanmarese government troops who moved into the area after drug lord Khun Sa surrendered this month, Thai police said yesterday. Many of the people, most of them from Myanmar's Shan ethnic minority, have slipped across the border into Thailand over the past three weeks, Thai border police said.

Young robber dies from fall off truck

Young robber dies from fall off truck BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A young suspect of a spate of road robberies, identified only as 19-year-old Her, died over the weekend of severe blood loss after falling from a truck he was allegedly robbing. Antara reported that Her and other members of his gang often scattered nails on portions of the trans-Sumatra road and robbed trucks which stopped due to tire punctures.

Companies should train workers

Companies should train workers JAKARTA (JP): The government is urging more state and private companies to undertake vocational training to help prepare their employees tackle the era of globalization. After reporting to President Soeharto here yesterday, Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto reiterated that the government gives incentives for companies wishing to run their own vocational education programs.

Rival NU leader announces his executive board

Rival NU leader announces his executive board JAKARTA (JP): Undeterred by remarks from senior government officials, who insist that his election as NU chairman last week is illegitimate, Abu Hasan announced the lineup of his executive board yesterday. Fulfilling the promise he made shortly after being elected chairman at the NU congress he organized last week, Abu announced the complete list of his board.

Mandarin hotel in Surabaya

Mandarin hotel in Surabaya SURABAYA, East Java (JP): The Hong Kong-based hotel management chain, Mandarin Oriental, has opened a five-star hotel called the Majapahit Mandarin Oriental Surabaya. The property, first known as Hotel Majapahit, was constructed in 1910. The hotel was reopened by East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman on Saturday after undergoing a US$35-million refurbishment program over the last two years.

Cemeteries visited before Ramadhan

Cemeteries visited before Ramadhan By Veronica Soediro JAKARTA (JP): A total gridlock-move-nowhere traffic jam is unusual even in the perpetually busy Tanah Kusir area. But thousands of people, in thousands of cars, have crept toward the Central Jakarta graveyard to perform the tradition of nyekar (ornamenting and praying at the graves of loved ones), before Ramadahn began on Monday. According to tradition, nyekar should be done just before the fasting month and not during the month itself.

Harsher measures against unruly banks welcomed

Harsher measures against unruly banks welcomed JAKARTA (JP): Legislators and business analysts supported Bank Indonesia's plan to impose stricter measures against banks violating the Legal Lending Limit regulation. Usman Erwulan of Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) said yesterday that it was high time now for the central bank to take legal action against banks not complying with lending limit regulations.

Mandala's executive class

Mandala's executive class JAKARTA (JP): Mandala Airlines, one of the country's scheduled airlines, will introduce an executive class starting on Feb. 1 for its services using Boeing B-737-200 aircraft. Mandala's commercial executive, Soegiarto, said yesterday that the new executive class service will firstly begin on the Jakarta-Semarang (Central Java) and Semarang-Jakarta routes. "We will open special counters and lounges.

RI second in bridge tournament

RI second in bridge tournament JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's most seasoned bridge pair, Henky Lasut and Eddy Manoppo, just fell short in the final day to finish second in the Cap-Volmac international bridge invitational tournament in The Hague on Sunday. It was the Indonesians' finest finish at the prestigious bridge meet which restricts only to the world's best 16 pairs.

Anti-nuclear groups demand action against Batan boss

Anti-nuclear groups demand action against Batan boss JAKARTA (JP): Two anti-nuclear groups urged the government yesterday to take firm action against the director of the National Atomic Agency (Batan) for speaking prematurely about the bidding for Indonesia's first nuclear power plant project. M.

Consortium to build $200m power plant

Consortium to build $200m power plant JAKARTA (JP): A consortium of the state electricity company PT PLN, the state mining company PT Aneka Tambang, a private firm PT Iroda, and a foreign company will build a 96-megawatt (MW) hydro- power plant in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi. "The US$200 million power project is expected to come on stream in 1998," Aneka Tambang's president Darmoko Slamet was quoted by Antara as saying in Pomalaa. He refused to mention the name of the foreign company.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Dai-ichi Hotel, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta. - Mezzanine Lounge: Solo Pianist, daily from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., opening hours Monday to Sunday 11 a.m to 1 a.m. * Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Bonauli vocal group, Monday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Los Morenos, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - The Tavern Pub: Yeah Yeah Boys, Sunday and Thursday, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Tuesday Maghrib 6.19 p.m. Wednesday Imsak 4:21 a.m. Subuh 4.31 a.m.

PDI unrepresented on East Java electoral board

PDI unrepresented on East Java electoral board SURABAYA (JP): East Java governor Basofi Soedirman left the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) unrepresented on the local electoral committee as the government-set deadline to solve its leadership rift passed unheeded yesterday. The "punitive" action is expected to affect the minority party's performance in next year's election where it competes with the United Development Party and the ruling Golkar party.

National Library vows to implement 1990 law

National Library vows to implement 1990 law By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Book publishers and visual and audio recording companies be warned. If you have not handed in copies of every work you have published to the National Library, you are liable to six months imprisonment and/or a Rp 5 million ($2,200) fine. An official at the National Library said yesterday that the government feels it's time to fully enforce Law No. 4/1990 on publications and audio and visual recordings.

Coal demand projected to jump by 70%

Coal demand projected to jump by 70% SYDNEY (Reuter): Demand for internationally traded steaming coal is forecast to jump by 70 percent to 395 million tons between 1995 and year 2005, a major study of the world coal trade by Australian Mineral Economics Pty Ltd (AME) said.

Removal of remains halted

Removal of remains halted JAKARTA (JP): The exhumation of more than 28,000 bodies from North Jakarta's Dobo public cemetery to Semper cemetery has been suspended until March 3 due to the fasting month of Ramadhan. The work will resume on March 4, a City cemetery agency official, Aji Achmad said yesterday.