Mega's nomination for president From Kompas I was surprised to read reports about Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), being a presidential candidate. It was like lightening had struck at midday. If the issue came from outside the party, that is a ghastly provocation. If it was from inside the party, that is bad politics, and maybe there are PDI members who were provoked by the issue of succession.

Guess What? Would you believe State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie is interested in discussing things not related to mathematics, physics formula or new aeronautical technology?

Politeness can be both funny and illogical JAKARTA (JP): Many Indonesians believe they should preserve the virtues of politeness and hospitality amidst the dangerous wave of globalization. They will do anything to promote the two virtues, and are creative at doing so. However, many people have been a little bit too creative, confusing others with their nonsensical language.

Indonesia's most favorite Bimbo By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): For many people, Ramadhan is the time to listen to Bimbo. You can't get away from them. Their music fills the malls and halls of hotels, and, of course, every Moslem household. Bandung's Bimbo Group teams the talented brothers Muhammad Samsudin Hardjakusuma (Sam Bimbo), Darmawan Hardjakusuma (Acil) and Jaka Hardjakusuma, and their youngest sister Iin Parlina.

S'porean jailed for match-fixing KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Malaysian court has fined and jailed a Singaporean businessman for attempting to fix a match in the 1994 Malaysian professional soccer league, news reports said yesterday. Rajendra Kurusamy, 35, whose name was linked to bribery cases in Singapore, was jailed a day and fined 10,000 ringgit (US$4,000) by a Sessions Court in northwestern Penang state Friday, the New Straits Times said.

22 sports proposed for 1998 Asiad HARBIN, China (Kyodo): The 1998 Bangkok Asian Games Organizing Committee proposed the staging of 22 sports, down by 12 from the 34 sports featured at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said yesterday. To be included among the 22 sports during the 15-day event starting Dec. 6 will be rugby and billiards-snooker, according to the committee.

Canada protests RI ambassador OTTAWA (Reuter): Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said on Friday he had protested to Indonesia's ambassador a visit the diplomat paid to the mother of a Timorese woman who has taken refuge in Canada. "We have sent a note to the ambassador stating that his actions were inappropriate," Axworthy, a liberal who just took over the foreign ministry portfolio last week, told reporters. He sent the letter on Thursday to Ambassador Benjamin Parwoto, who on Jan.

Magnificent Borobudur revisited By P.G. Punchihewa YOGYAKARTA (JP): After descending the last flight of steps leading to Borobudur I turn back to have another look at this magnificent monument which I am leaving behind for the sixth time. In the back of my mind there is a restless feeling. Will there be a seventh time? Every time I go back I have the desire and hope to come back. It's magnetic charm pulls me again and again like few other places. Is it the sanctity of the place?

ASEAN flexible on nuclear issue: Alatas PHUKET, Thailand (AFP): Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said yesterday that ASEAN countries would be flexible in efforts to have the five nuclear weapons powers sign a treaty banning such arms from the region. Alatas said officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were holding regular meetings with the five nuclear powers to convince them to sign the nuclear weapons free zone treaty.

Jakarta no longer city of hope for rape victim JAKARTA (JP): In a few weeks, young "Lani" will be one of a crowd of maids suffocating in bus on their happy trip home for the Idul Fitri holidays. But amid the shower of gifts and stories of the big city that the family will press around to hear, Lani will keep the night of Jan. 25 to herself. In a big house in the shady area of Menteng in Central Jakarta, she wishes very much that this Ramadhan reunion will be her last. "I don't want to come back.

Artistic reflections of women's major concerns By Cebe Tadjoedin JAKARTA (JP): For many curators and art institutions, exhibitions of women artists do not contain professional value. But the current art exhibit at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. proves them wrong.

Oh dear 'becak'! How I miss you! By Kartina Soejono JAKARTA (JP): I bless the fact that I am a lansia (lanjut usia), or elderly, when I no longer have to accompany small children to a playgroup, kindergarten or elementary school. Not that I don't like children or taking them to school. But I'm often relieved when I see young mothers in my neighborhood frantically trying to escort their youngsters on an ojeg (motorcycles for rent) when there are no becak (pedicab) available.

Guess What? Attending a hearing at the House of Representatives requires a lot of energy and stamina, the more so during the fasting month because, on top of drowsiness, the participants have the additional problem of fighting off hunger and thirst. Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono understands this well. He strived to keep the House members as well as his staff awake during a hearing with Commission II on Thursday.

Chili commotion clobbers country JAKARTA (JP): Any one who thinks red chilies are just a spice must have missed the media screaming about the soaring price of the little things. It was the talk of the country last week. I didn't know and had never bothered to ask the price of red chilies before. All I cared was that the hot stuff was on the table to spice my favorite dish. My indifference turned into concern when the guys at the top started talking about the price.

Setting the trend in Islamic music By Rita A. Widiadana and Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Turn on the radio or television during Ramadhan, or venture into a shopping mall, and you will hear Islamic songs calling all Moslems to get closer to God. Islamic music is going public. It has expanded into malls and even luxury hotels. Only a few years ago, traditional Islamic music was the norm.

Beating the drum of tradition in Bali By Benito Lopulalan DENPASAR (JP): "In the old days, my grandfather was always bestowing his traditional service to the palace of Gianyar and Ubud," said Wayan Jendra, a drum maker in Getas Kawan, Gianyar. Next to him several unfinished drums await completion. In Bali, art and everyday life are two sides of the same coin. In the old days, the aristocracy played an important role.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit 7:40 TV Series: Speed Keteers 8:05 Among Us 8:35 Children Stories 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Music: Album Kita 10:45 Youth Program: Temu Remaja 11:15 Music: Minggu Gembira 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m.

Psychological, physical benefits in performing 'shalat' By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Obligatory prayer shalat, one of the five pillars in Islam, and wudhu (ablution) have both spiritual and physical benefits. To perform the prayer, one must be in the state of ritual purity conferred by washing parts of the body in a ritual called wudhu. K.H. Noer Muhammad Iskandar, a noted ulema, and Dr.

New seminary building inaugurated in Dili JAKARTA (JP): Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Monsignor Pietro Sambi and Bishop of East Timor Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo yesterday inaugurated a new seminary building in the village of Balide, in Dili, the capital of East Timor. The inauguration of the Nossa Senhora de Fatima Seminary building was slightly marred by a group of young East Timorese who staged an anti-government protest, according to Antara.

Guess What? Human right activist T. Mulya Lubis has a big plan: he wants to set up a legal aid group to help people with AIDS/HIV. "AIDS has many legal aspects," he told journalists Tuesday evening after attending a discussion on a book entitled Menjadi Indonesia (Becoming Indonesia) in Central Jakarta. Lubis decided to lend a hand when he saw that in many places, those tested positive for HIV are discriminated against.

Asian movie stars get awards SINGAPORE (AFP): Hollywood-based Hong Kong movie director John Woo and four other Asian movie celebrities have been conferred awards here for their contribution to the regional cinema industry, officials said Friday. Woo, who has more than two dozen feature films to his credit and shot to international fame with his stylized gangster epics in the 1980's, received the "lifetime achievement in filmmaking" award at the CineAsia movie convention.

Where the wild things go for sculpture By Veronica Soediro and Alistair Hammond JAKARTA (JP): When the urge to exercise hits, there are always plenty of excuses to lie down and wait for it to pass. Such as the heat and the dust, or the rain and the mud, and the bumper-to-bumper traffic, and the people everywhere... But to stop our mortal shells acquiring that engaging Sumo look, or morphing into the old guy in "Si Doel", some action is required. As V.I.