Simple shapes, but luxury fabrics: Biyan goes minimalist By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): It's 1996 -- do you know where your jewelry is? Fashion's neophytes may grin while twiddling their gold baubles, but style zealots hide their glittering trinkets in Louis Vuitton trunks. In the minimalist nineties, less is more -- so long as what you have on already costs a bundle. Fashion's paradigms are being remodeled.

Bonuses for athletes From Neraca The urge to reward high achievers, particularly those enhancing the image of the nation in international fora, is understandable. But now donors are overdoing it. There is an impression that they are competing to give the biggest bonus. It has become fashionable to give bonuses to successful athletes. East Kalimantan province, for example, has promised to give a bonus of Rp. 5 million to any gold medalist, and Rp.3 million and Rp.

Rusli's essential elements are not for sale By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): A modest exhibition at Taman Ismail Marzuki's Cipta II Gallery presents 27 small and four medium-sized watercolors and two oil on canvas paintings by Rusli, an Indonesian painter who may not be very famous, yet whose works are worthy of a master. The simplicity of the exhibition seems to be very much in the spirit of the artist's paintings.

Monas by night From Pos Kota The National Monument (Monas) functions as a recreation site. It has experienced a change, especially so in the evenings. From 9 p.m., right through the night, its condition and all the roads around Monas are quite removed from the idea of a recreation park. Young women, aged 15 years to 20 years, are flaunting their physical attributes along these roads. Some are clearly soliciting, others pose as drink or cigarette sellers.

People grumble about high medicine prices JAKARTA (JP): The following are some people's thoughts on medicine prices. Ahmad Fuad Afdhal, a former executive of the widely diversified Bimantara Group and now a successful businessman: The main reason why medicine is very expensive is high promotion costs. The aggressive promotion of medicine includes conspiracy with related parties. Even by my standards, medicine is still too expensive.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:25 News 6:45 Healthy and Fit 7:00 News 7:30 TV Series: Grandizer 8:00 TV Drama 9:00 English News Service 9:30 People and Events 10:00 Music: Album Minggu Ini 11:00 Children's Stories 11:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m.

Large-scale offensive begins in mock war over the Natunas By Ridwan M. Sijabat RANAI, Natuna Island (JP): Indonesian jets fired rockets from the air while warships a few miles from the shore launched missiles to provide cover for yesterday's massive landing of several battalions of troopers on this island. Yesterday was D-day in the mock war in which Indonesian forces were dispatched to recapture the Natunas, a strategically located territory that is also rich in oil and gas, from "enemy" hands.

Nabunome wins second gold for his province JAKARTA (JP): Eduardus Nabunome of East Nusa Tenggara was clearly on the decline when he entered the 14th National Games (PON), but he can leave the sporting meet with a smile. A hustling-turned-lazy Jakarta was about to wake up yesterday morning when Nabunome landed his province its only second gold medal, this time in the sport which has been under his control for the past decade, marathon.

Public phones From Neraca I would like to appeal to Telkom to regularly service their public telephones. Most of them are out of order. At the Wisma Asri housing complex in North Bekasi, a great number of public telephones, coin or card operated, have been installed but only at three locations are the telephones operational. If Telkom does not believe this information, they can inspect the condition of their facilities in the vicinity of the Wisma Asri shop-houses.

Jakarta strengthens its grip on PON JAKARTA (JP): Midway into the 14th National Games, host Jakarta issued a true warning yesterday that no provinces are likely to dethrone it. Jakartan troops won most battles, ending the day with a haul of 70 golds, 41 silvers and 41 bronzes to leave its closest contender West Java a distant second with 35 golds, 40 silvers and 46 bronzes. East Java remained third with 21 golds, 39 silvers and 36 bronzes.

Collusion practices inflate medicine prices By K. Basrie JAKARTA (JP): Although he no longer chairs the influential Indonesian Medical Association, Kartono Mohamad remains authoritative in medical affairs. He is now chief editor of Medika health magazine. When leading the association from 1985 to 1994, he submitted a list to the health minister at the time, Adhyatma, of 500 practitioners he alleged colluded with pharmaceutical industries and inflated medicine prices.

Soeharto warns of revolution to replace state ideology JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto appealed yesterday to the nation for vigilance, saying that some people are trying to replace the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution through a revolution. "They are exploiting poverty and social disparity problems to start a revolution," Soeharto said, reported Antara.

'Jamu' carries the stigma of being unscientific By Gedsiri Suhartono JAKARTA (JP): Alternative medicine has been around for ages, and long after the introduction of western medicine and professionally trained doctors, it remains popular. In the international medicine market, traditional medicine experts say that Indonesian traditional medicine has less than 1 percent of the world's traditional medicine market.

Medicine prices tell a horror story Medicine prices continue to increase each year in Indonesia as producers enjoy an "overdose" of profits. Government officials and doctors benefit from this situation. A team of reporters from The Jakarta Post recently conducted research on the issue and interviews to find the root of the problem.

Bogus medicines targeted at low-income consumers By Arif Suryobuwono JAKARTA (JP): Bogus pharmaceuticals are there for those who cannot afford to buy the expensive real ones. The stuff is also there because there the low-budget consumer's problem is an opportunity to make money.

Malaysia sticks to development planning Zainal Aznam Yusof outlines some of the trends in the Malaysian economy, and its prospects in the years ahead. With all the razzmatazz over liberalization, the fetish of market forces and the laying out of the red carpet for the private sector to sustain economic growth, one would have thought that these would spell the demise of economic planning. Not so. At least not for Malaysia, where development planning is taken seriously.

Uphill challenges facing megacity management Megacity Management in the Asian and Pacific Region Edited by Jeffry R. Stubbs and Giles Clarke Published by The Asian Development Bank Manila, 1996 Volume one (541 pages) Volume two (398 pages) JAKARTA (JP): The population of the Greater Jakarta Area (Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang and Bekasi), already the fifth largest metropolitan area in the world, will increase from almost 20 million at present to 23.22 million by 2000.

Host Jakarta, C. Java secure tennis golds JAKARTA (JP): Host Jakarta assured itself of the men's singles gold medal in the 14th National Games (PON) tennis competition yesterday when its two aces set up an all-Jakartan final. Central Java also captured a gold from its women's doubles team of Wynne Prakusya and Liza Andriyani, who beat North Sulawesi's Irawati Moerid and Vivi Rogi in one of the two gold medal matches yesterday.

Roadside drug stalls offer affordable, cheap medicines JAKARTA (JP): If you believe drugs are just too expensive and your doctors are quacks anyway, go to Jakarta's "drug markets". The prices may amaze you. Roadside medicine stalls are ubiquitous in the markets of Tanah Abang and Jatinegara as well as in modern business districts like Senen and Glodok. Their customers are mostly poor people who find prescription medicines in drugstores too expensive.