Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 19 February 1996

38 articles found

80 students stay illegally

80 students stay illegally PADANG, West Sumatra: The authorities have found 80 foreign students, mostly Malaysians, without necessary stay permits. Most do not even have visas, said Sunandar, a spokesman for the provincial immigration office. "In fact, we could have deported them but instead we have given them another chance to obtain the permits and visas," Sunandar was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.

Travelers inch their way home

Travelers inch their way home JAKARTA (JP): The Idul Fitri journey home turned into a nightmare yesterday for hundreds of thousands of travelers trapped in the seemingly endless congestion of Java's highways and seaports. Jakarta's bus terminals and train stations were packed with wayward travelers who failed to get seats as buses from Central and East Java turned up hours late due to heavy traffic.

Sempati Air to go public

Sempati Air to go public JAKARTA (JP): The Humpuss Group plans a public offering of its airline company, PT Sempati Air, this year, Antara reported on Saturday. Humpuss' president, Hutomo Mandala Putra, said that the group had prepared two companies -- Sempati and Humpuss Sea Transport -- to go public this year and expects to raise approximately Rp 500 billion (US$215.9 million) from the flotation. "But we later found out that only Sempati is ready," he said.

Palace of fairy tales

Palace of fairy tales JAKARTA (JP): Some 40 orphans from the Tangerang-based Islamic Village visited the Istana Cerita (Palace of Fairy Tales) at the Ciputra Mall over the weekend. The orphans who were invited by the Mall management watched an Ali Baba operetta. The operetta, one of the 1001 night fairy tales, was performed by children ballet club Sanggar Pelangi.

Last week's flood losses reach Rp 50 billion

Last week's flood losses reach Rp 50 billion JAKARTA (JP): Last week's floods, which killed 20 people, have caused more than Rp 50 billion (US$23.million) in material losses, according to official figures. The deputy governor for social welfare, R.S. Museno, said over the weekend that the high figure was caused by the flood affecting such a large proportion of the city. More than 544,000 people in 139 of the city's 265 subdistricts suffered.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Monday Maghrib 6:17 p.m.

Perumnas to build more houses

Perumnas to build more houses JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned housing company Perum Perumnas plans to build more than 10,973 new houses and apartments in 15 locations in Greater Jakarta this year, an official says. Company spokesman Azis Dahlan said over the weekend that the apartment complexes in Cengkareng and Kemayoran in West and Central Jakarta are part of the plan. The Cengkareng complex has 768 apartments and the Kemayoran has 363 apartments, Antara reported.

Emirates promotes Java, Bali

Emirates promotes Java, Bali JAKARTA (JP): Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is promoting Java and Bali through a series of televised 30-minute programs seen by audiences in 45 million houses worldwide. The airline said in a statement here over the weekend that the series, called On the Horizon, consist of 13 films, each of which shows international destinations served by Emirate.

No paper on Idul Fitri

No paper on Idul Fitri In celebration of the Idul Fitri, The Jakarta Post will not be published tomorrow and Wednesday. The Post will appear again on Thursday. We wish our Moslem readers a Happy Idul Fitri. -- Publisher

Nature conservation in Puncak

Nature conservation in Puncak Finally the Puncak mountain resort area, popularly called the Bopunjur (Bogor-Puncak-Cianjur) strip, is declared close for tourist development. No more villas, hotels or restaurants may be built in the area. The closure of the resort area to tourist development is based on an instruction issued by President Soeharto and is intended to restore the area to its original function as an environmental conservation zone.

Flood delays orchestra's TV show

Flood delays orchestra's TV show JAKARTA (JP): Last week's flood has delayed the Twilite Orchestra's show Simponi Lebaran at the privately-owned television station Indosiar. The Twilite Orchestra announced on Saturday that the delay was caused by the orchestra being unable to record the show on Feb. 10. The orchestra's communication manager, Alex Frits, said in the release that the flood caused traffic jams on the route to the television studio on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Dai-ichi, 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.

Cyberbanking cashes in on Internet

Cyberbanking cashes in on Internet By Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): Domestic banking competition is already fierce and will get fiercer in the near future as the cyberbanking industry looks set to become a reality in Indonesia. The flood of foreign banks onto the Internet is unstoppable. Every day, a new bank enters the Internet to promote its services. They will soon offer cyberbanking services here.

Bank interest in tax returns

Bank interest in tax returns JAKARTA (JP): Tax Director General Fuad Bawazier said Saturday that incomes which have been taxed under a final tax procedure, such as bank deposits and savings, should not be reported in annual tax returns. He said that taxpayers are also not required to report untaxable incomes in tax returns.

Questions abound as giant rice estate plan proceeds

Questions abound as giant rice estate plan proceeds By Prapti Widinugraheni JAKARTA (JP): The government's ambitious program to convert more than one million hectares of peat land into rice and food crop estates has stirred a huge controversy. But the US$217 million mega project, initiated by a June 1995 Presidential Decree, has started and there is to be no turning back, according to officials.

Govt to revoke cement licenses

Govt to revoke cement licenses JAKARTA (JP): The Central Java office of the Investment Coordinating Board wants the revocation of 11 licenses for the establishment of cement plants in the province because their sponsors have failed to start the projects after some years.

Day of Idul Fitri lies in the stars

Day of Idul Fitri lies in the stars JAKARTA (JP): Idul Fitri is almost certain to fall on Tuesday, but two prominent Islamic organizations say a final decision depends on the sighting of the moon's crescent tonight. The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Islamic Propagation Council said on Saturday that they would wait for the sighting before formally pronouncing the day of Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the Ramadhan fasting month.

Ramadhan in retrospect

Ramadhan in retrospect With the setting of the last Ramadhan sun today comes the end of the fasting month, when Moslems had to subdue inner storms of biological and emotional demands while practicing virtues of patience and social solidarity. Many Moslems spent the last month gathering at mosques in the evenings to take part in special prayer services and to glorify the name of Allah.

Golkar health care problem

Golkar health care problem SEMARANG: Golkar, the ruling political grouping, has established health posts to provide first aid for Lebaran travelers at bus terminals in Central Java. More than 1,500 volunteers will be posted in bus terminals in a gesture of Golkar sympathy for ordinary people. The move, however, has provoked widespread suspicion. Golkar critics charge that it is part of the organization's illicit campaign to attract voters for next year's general election.

Plantation firm's profits up

Plantation firm's profits up JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned PT Perkebunan (PTP) X-XXXI plantation company, which manages plantations in Lampung and South Sumatra, announced that its profits increased by 50 percent to Rp 83 billion (US$36.24 million) last year. PTP X-XXXI is made up of PTP X and PTP XXXI, whose main commodities are rubber and sugar, respectively. According to the Antara news agency, the profits of PTP X were Rp 73.6 billion last year and those of PTP XXXI were Rp 9.4 billion.

Police hunt for men threatening Acan's relatives

Police hunt for men threatening Acan's relatives JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi police are hunting a number of men believed to have intimidated relatives of Acan, whose wife and daughters were raped by a gang of robbers last year. Bekasi Police Chief Lt. Col. Elfrizo Tobing told The Jakarta Post on Saturday the intimidators are the relatives of the 11 defendants being tried for the gang rape and robbery.

Megawati stays calm in face of East Java tension

Megawati stays calm in face of East Java tension JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chief Megawati Soekarnoputri brushed aside yesterday reports that the East Java police were clamping down on the party's two contending local chapters. "It is hard for me to comment because I only know what has been reported in the press. I have not received any official word," she said on Saturday.

Irian quake toll rises to 23

Irian quake toll rises to 23 JAKARTA (JP): The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck northern Irian Jaya on Saturday rose to 23 yesterday. Fifteen were reported missing while the actual number of fatalities and the extent of the damage were expected to increase. Local officials said yesterday that poor communication in the remote areas has prevented them from obtaining more accurate information.

National sprint rally relocated to Lido

National sprint rally relocated to Lido JAKARTA (JP): The second leg of the national sprint rally will be held at the Lido resort in Bogor instead of in Palembang, South Sumatra, on March 3. The relocation is meant to make the rally more challenging. Unlike the Palembang track, the mountain resort offers a straight clay, gravel track with bumps and twisting turns. The track produces much dust in hot weather and is slippery when wet with rain.

Ramos rules out any return of authoritarianism

Ramos rules out any return of authoritarianism MANILA (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos disavowed any plans to declare martial law yesterday and urged the armed forces to oppose anyone who may have "a hidden agenda" to return authoritarian rule to the Philippines.

Cars valued more than human life

Cars valued more than human life BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Owners of missing cars from the sunken KMP Gurita ferry have gotten higher compensation than relatives of the dead and missing. The state-owned insurance companies, PT Jasa Raharja and PT Jasaraharja Putra, transferred Rp 6 million (about US$2,600) on Saturday to the relatives of 228 of the 338 people registered killed or missing. Car owners, or their relatives, are entitled to Rp 8.5 million in cash.

Dirty business

Dirty business My wife and I are spending a two-week holiday in Bali. On Feb. 15 we got, on the road, a written invitation to visit a new residence, the Risata Club in Kuta. Several gifts were promised, for example free jeep hire which interested us. We visited this residence. At the hotel reception, a Balinese girl told us they were conducting a promotion because the hotel had been taken over by a new company. She asked whether we had 90 minutes to have a look.

City folks get hero's welcome in home towns

City folks get hero's welcome in home towns By Fairus Husaini The National Family Planning Board recently organized a media tour across southern Sumatra and Java to see how villages are planning for the return of their former residents for Idul Fitri. The Jakarta Post prepared this report. MAGETAN, East Java (JP): The annual exodus of big city residents to their rural home villages is more than just people celebrating Idul Fitri with their loved ones.

Data on Market Capitalization of Selected Asia-Pacific Exchanges

Data on Market Capitalization of Selected Asia-Pacific Exchanges (In US$ billion) Exchanges 1993 1994 1995 ---------------------------------------------------- Indonesia (Jakarta) 32.953 47.241 52.242 Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) 220.328 199.276 224.193 Philippines (Manila) 40.327 55.519 55.037 Taiwan, China 195.198 247.325 186.821 Thailand (Bangkok) 130.510 131.479 150.583

Amex plans Telkom options

Amex plans Telkom options CHICAGO, USA (Reuter): The American Stock Exchange (Amex) said it will list options on American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) on Feb. 22. Telekomunikasi Indonesia options will have initial strike prices of 30, 35 and 40, with expirations in March, April, July and October. LETCO-Specialist LP will be the specialist unit and position limits are 7,500 contracts.

A public vihara: Palmerah's Buddhist temple

A public vihara: Palmerah's Buddhist temple JAKARTA (JP): For old Jakartans the Buddhist temple in Palmerah is no strange sight, but nobody knows who built it. No wonder people call it a public temple, said Koh Bun Tek, 65, an employee of the temple. "Nobody calls the temple a public temple though, but nobody knows the history of the building. No one knows who really owns the temple. One thing people are sure of is that this building has been here for more than a decade," Bun Tek said.

Athletes promised jobs after weightlifting

Athletes promised jobs after weightlifting JAKARTA (JP): Weightlifters who perform to the best of their ability will have no problem finding a job when their sporting days are over, said Soesilo Soedarman, chairman of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association. "Lifters who honor the country can rest assured that they will find employment," the newly re-elected chairman told reporters on Saturday.

New era for Asian exchanges

New era for Asian exchanges By Sahala Sianipar JAKARTA (JP): The movement of capital across national borders has increased significantly thanks to the acceleration of the free trade area in the Asia Pacific region. Last November, leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) reached agreement in Osaka on several economic areas although the process will be done according to each member's capability.

JSX may not reach target for new issuers

JSX may not reach target for new issuers JAKARTA (JP): Executives of several securities companies have estimated that the Jakarta Stock Exchange's (JSX) expectation of 30 to 35 new share issuers this year will not be met due to a concentration on large-sized issues.

Nuclear reactor

Nuclear reactor In his letter of Feb. 9, 1996, entitled Nuclear power, Keith Bradley of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited makes several statements nobody would dare make publicly in Canada. I shudder to imagine what he tells Indonesians in private.

Critics agree that law on subversion tough to revoke

Critics agree that law on subversion tough to revoke JAKARTA (JP): "Let's be realistic", legal expert Loebby Loqman said when asked if the controversial subversion law would be revoked. "I'm not pessimistic or optimistic, but I doubt if it will happen in the near future," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

TV programs

TV programs Today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Saber Rider and The Star Sheriff 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:05 Children's Program: Riang Ria 3:30 TV Series: Crystal Maze 4:30 Quiz: Cepat Tepat 4:00 News: Lintasan Berita 4:05 TV Series: Al Jamalludin Al Afghani 5:00 Evening News 5:25 Travel: My Country 5:30 Technology 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country: Yogyakarta 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Foreign Report 7:00 Evening News 7:25 Garuda...

Lamont lambasts EU's view of SEA

Lamont lambasts EU's view of SEA KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Britain's former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont has lambasted the European Union for its negative view of Southeast Asia, a news report said yesterday. Lamont, a British government backbencher, said many EU nations' feared the emerging markets in Southeast Asia would threaten their economic survival. "They use words like 'tiger' or 'dragon' to describe the new emerging markets here...