Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 7 January 1997

37 articles found

Workshop on climate change

Workshop on climate change BOGOR, West Java: A number of countries shared their experiences of their climate change action plans at a five-day workshop that opened here yesterday. The workshop was organized by the Indonesian government in cooperation with the U.S. Country Studies Program, Japan's Environmental Agency and the Climate Institute. The gathering brings together 120 government officials, scientists and representatives of multilateral organizations.

Legislator praise wage hike for civil servants

Legislator praise wage hike for civil servants JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives members hailed yesterday the government's plan to discuss a hike in salaries for civil servants and Armed Forces personnel, predicting a fair increase would be between 10 and 20 percent. President Soeharto said, while presenting the government's 1997/98 draft budget yesterday, salaries and wages were expected to climb to Rp 32 trillion (US$14.3 billion), up 16 percent from last year's Rp 27 trillion (US$12.

Emission tests begin across the capital city

Emission tests begin across the capital city JAKARTA (JP): Emission tests began at five city sites yesterday, targeting testing of 10,000 cars by Thursday. In at least one of five sites, results were improved from last year, when the city launched the first of a three-part test. At the site on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, only 15 percent, or 37 of 250 tested buses and cars, got red stickers, indicating failure of the test.

Govt allots Rp 15b to develop sports

Govt allots Rp 15b to develop sports JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government, for the first time, is to provide Rp 15 billion (US$6,250,000) to develop sport in the country's 27 provinces, State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, said yesterday. Hayono, who attended the annual state budget speech delivered by President Soeharto at the House of Representatives, said that the budget is a pilot project. It will be doubled if it succeeds but could be stopped if it fails.

Air China delays

Air China delays On Dec. 27, 1996, I flew Air China to Beijing, assuming that the country's "Visit China 1997" program would guarantee good service. I bought a return Jakarta-Beijing-Jakarta ticket. The flight (CA972) to Beijing stopped in Xiamen, a provincial capital in China, due to reported engine trouble. Passengers were asked to wait in the airport. It took a long time to repair because they had to order the spare parts from Beijing.

'Election must not bring anxiety'

'Election must not bring anxiety' JAKARTA (JP): Legislators agreed with President Soeharto yesterday that the general election in May should not cause suffering and trouble. Commenting on the President's state budget speech, in which he disclosed that the budget increase for political affairs was the second largest after that to poverty alleviation and population programs, the legislators also agreed the increase should be accompanied by better performance in the sector.

Guard killed in brothel

Guard killed in brothel JAKARTA (JP): A brothel patron stabbed a security guard yesterday in a fight in the Kalijodo red-light district in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. North Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Rismawan said the victim, Armand, aged 24, who was fighting with another visitor in front of a bar, was approached by the suspect, Awiludin Daeng, 21. Rismawan did not say what caused Armand's fight with the first man.

Religious pluralism doesn't stir conflict, say experts

Religious pluralism doesn't stir conflict, say experts SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Different doctrines and religious teachings have never before incited conflict in Indonesia, experts concluded here yesterday. The experts argue that conflict is mostly triggered by violations to the political and ethical commitment long shared by the public.

House Speaker warns of widening disparities

House Speaker warns of widening disparities JAKARTA (JP): The widening economic and political disparities in Indonesian society may well trigger more mass violence, House Speaker Wahono warned yesterday. If not properly resolved, the disparities will affect the hard-worked-for national resilience, he noted when opening the new House session. "The violence that rocked several areas at the end of 1996 shows that our society's sociocultural resilience is weak.

Johnson gets green signal

Johnson gets green signal JAKARTA (JP): The immigration department of the Ministry of Justice said yesterday that Earvin "Magic" Johnson would be allowed to perform at the Senayan Indoor Stadium here tomorrow and Thursday as long as he is accompanied by a Ministry of Health medical team. Johnson, who is bringing eight players and four technicians with him, was banned from entering Indonesia in January 1994 because he is HIV positive.

Toxic crater open to public

Toxic crater open to public SEMARANG: Central Java governor Soewardi played down yesterday the danger of poisonous gas emitted by a new crater on Mt. Dieng, saying the level of toxicity was so low it could be ignored. The Banjarnegara area, a popular holiday resort, would not be closed to the public, but the governor asked people to stay alert for a possible increase in the level of toxicity. "The area is very popular with holidaymakers.

Two killed by speeding train

Two killed by speeding train JAKARTA (JP): A train crushed to death yesterday two traders who were crossing a railway track in Buaran, East Jakarta. The victims were Hasanudin, 45, who hailed from Madura, East Java, and M. Seneng, 40, a resident of Cakung, East Jakarta, a Duren Sawit Police subprecinct officer said yesterday. Eyewitnesses told police the two were crossing the railway track when the train from Bekasi neared in high speed.

Religious communities told to unite

Religious communities told to unite JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso appealed to city religious leaders to strengthen unity through mutual respect and the maintenance of good relations with the government. Speaking at a one-day seminar on religious tolerance held by the Indonesian Mosques Association in Jakarta Sunday, the two- star general said social conflicts had always been linked to religion.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 6, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,000 0 0 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,450 50 6,924,500 Alumindo Perkasa 750 0 1,500 Andayani Megah 1,050 0 183,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,375 -25 441,500 Anwar Sierad 2,325 0 0 Aqua Golden Mississippi 4,125 -25 62,500 Argha Karya Prima Industry 3,400 0 12,500 Argo Pantes 1,625 0 0 Asahimas...

Business leaders praise draft of state budget

Business leaders praise draft of state budget JAKARTA (JP): Business leaders say the 1997/1998 draft state budget unveiled yesterday reflects the government's intention to increase the role of provinces in national development. Chairman of the Bukaka Group Fadel Muhammad said yesterday the draft budget was "very people-oriented," as was President Soeharto's speech at the House of Representatives yesterday which promised several presidential decrees supporting bottom-up development planning.

Hotel plants trees in Puncak

Hotel plants trees in Puncak JAKARTA (JP): In an attempt to curb floods in Jakarta a private company has launched an environmental awareness campaign and planted 1,100 cinnamon trees along the Puncak resort area's main road. Besides beautifying the area, Central Jakarta's Sari Pan Pacific Hotel planted the trees Saturday to help conserve water in catchments, the hotel's general manager Ken Ide said.

RP inflation up to 5.1%

RP inflation up to 5.1% MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' inflation rate rose to 5.1 percent in December from 4.5 percent in November, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said Monday. This figure brought the average inflation rate in 1996 to 8.4 percent, up from 8.1 percent registered in 1995, the NSO added.

Pope ordains East Timor bishop

Pope ordains East Timor bishop VATICAN CITY (AFP): Pope John Paul II ordained 12 bishops yesterday including a second bishop for Indonesia's province of East Timor. Monsignor Basilio do Nascimento, former assistant to 1996 Nobel peace prize laureate Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, becomes the bishop of the newly created Baucau diocese in East Timor located east of the capital Dili.

Chaotic bus terminal in Bogor

Chaotic bus terminal in Bogor From Kompas A pedestrian bridge was recently built next to Bogor's Baranangsiang intercity bus terminal. A number of beggars have now taken up permanent positions on the bridge, hampering the flow of pedestrians. Many passengers now avoid using the bridge, thus defeating the efforts of the Bogor administration to alleviate traffic jams in front of the bus terminal.

Police arrest 72 students for brawling

Police arrest 72 students for brawling JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested 72 of the hundreds of students involved in a mass brawl on Jl. MT Haryono, East Jakarta, yesterday. The violence started when a posse from an East Jakarta technical senior high school (STM) who had commandeered a 50-seat public bus attacked rivals from another STM who were loitering on the roadside. The students smashed the windows of the bus, leaving several innocent passengers injured. City Police Chief Maj. Gen.

RI bridge stars eye top three at Cup Volmac

RI bridge stars eye top three at Cup Volmac JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's highest-rated bridge pair, Henky Lasut and Eddy Manoppo, expects to scale the podium in next week's Cup Volmac tournament, in which only 16 pairs enter the fray. "Eddy and I were runners up in the 1996 tournament and were in the top three in 1995," Henky commented yesterday about his chances in the tournament, scheduled for Jan. 15 to Jan. 20 in The Hague, the Netherlands.

EN, Motorola ink deal

EN, Motorola ink deal JAKARTA (JP): PT Elektrindo Nusantara (EN), a subsidiary of the diversified Bimantara Group, has signed an agreement with telecommunications giant Motorola of the United States to set up a wireless data network in Indonesia. EN would be the first wireless data network operator to provide nationwide two-way mobile data communications, Motorola stated yesterday.

PT Astra launches new model of Kijang

PT Astra launches new model of Kijang JAKARTA (JP): PT Toyota Astra Motor, a subsidiary of the country's largest automaker PT Astra International, launched a totally new model of Kijang van yesterday amid tight competition in the country's car market. The new model will carry an off-road price-tag of between Rp 27.05 million and Rp 43.4 million (around US$18,000). Toyota Astra Motor's President Rudyanto Hardjanto said the firm had spent four years developing the model.

Computer failure upsets drivers license appliacants

Computer failure upsets drivers license appliacants JAKARTA (JP): Computer breakdown at the new drivers license office in West Jakarta upset thousands of drivers license applicants yesterday. Antara reported that at 11:30 a.m. the computers had still not been fixed, frustrating applicants who had been queuing all morning. The chief of Jakarta traffic police, Col. Ansyar Roem said the computer breakdown was the supplier's responsibility.

Waves disrupt sea transport

Waves disrupt sea transport KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: High waves have virtually crippled shipping between Kupang and Larantuka, Ende and Rote over the past three weeks, officials said yesterday. Shipping companies have grounded their smaller ferries indefinitely due to the very bad weather, a spokesman for the Kupang port, Untung Widodo, told Antara. "The waves are unusually high and we don't want to take a risk," he said.

National Library gets priceless slides

National Library gets priceless slides JAKARTA (JP): The Lontar Foundation presented yesterday more than 300 slides of images from illuminated manuscripts on Indonesian writing traditions to the National Library. Foundation chairperson Adila Suwarno Soepeno said the 297-page book Illuminations: The Writing Traditions of Indonesia was published in English. It took four years to compile the book that was launched six months ago by President Soeharto.

Press comes under fire at House session

Press comes under fire at House session JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian press was targeted with criticism yesterday for reporting which had allegedly stirred up trouble. President Soeharto, in his state budget speech before the House of Representatives, warned the press and community leaders to avoid blowing up issues of economic disparity and poverty because this could lead to rioting which could destroy the social foundation and economic facilities.

Govt urged to include tariff policy in budget

Govt urged to include tariff policy in budget JAKARTA (JP): The government should include proposed utility charges in the draft state budget, members of the House of Representatives said yesterday. Tadjuddin Noer Said, a member of the House Budgetary Commission from the dominant Golkar faction said such a procedure was important to ensure the tariffing was fair and reasonable.

Prudent budget

Prudent budget The structures of revenue and spending plans for the 1997/1998 fiscal year beginning in April are very similar to the current state budget, which is based on a conservative fiscal policy. The 11.6 percent nominal increase, or 5 percent in real terms (adjusted for the 6.7 percent inflation last year), in the proposed budget will not have a significantly expansive impact on the economy.

Incidence of local poverty declines in 1996

Incidence of local poverty declines in 1996 JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesians living below the poverty line dropped to 22 million in 1996 from almost 26 million in 1993, President Soeharto said yesterday. Soeharto said he had just received a provisional report on the 1996 National Socioeconomic Survey, the basis for counting the number of people living below the poverty line.

President Soeharto unveils 1997-1998 draft budget

President Soeharto unveils 1997-1998 draft budget President Soeharto unveiled the draft of the annual state budget yesterday before a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR). The following is an unofficial, condensed translation of the budget transcript. JAKARTA: The Southeast Asian region remains a region with high growth rate. Our own economy is moving with great dynamism.

'Current account deficit manageable'

'Current account deficit manageable' JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor J. Soedradjad Djiwandono said the widening current account deficit would be manageable, with capital inflows remaining strong in the years to come. He said the government was tackling the widening current account deficit two ways, by reducing the size of the deficit and attracting more capital inflows.

EDB investment scheme

EDB investment scheme SINGAPORE (AFP): The Economic Development Board (EDB) has stepped up co-investments with multinationals and local firms with a commitment of S$227.6 million (US$162 million) in 1996, officials said yesterday. The EDB, tasked with attracting investments and encouraging pioneer ventures by sharing the risks with private companies, administers an investment pool of US$1.3 billion under the Cluster Development Fund program. The 1996 investments account for nearly half the $483.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Los Morenitos Vocal Group, Monday, Thursday, Sunday, 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Los Paraguas Vocal Group, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 7:15 p.m. to 411 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Pianist Sudarmadi, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m.; Boece & Ayu, Monday and Tuesday, 8 p.m.

Soeharto proposes tight budget

Soeharto proposes tight budget JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto proposed increasing the state budget 11.6 percent for the 1997/1998 fiscal year at the House of Representatives yesterday. The draft budget, which when adjusted for inflation is only 5 percent larger than this year's budget, despite what the President called a political year, is envisaged to balance at Rp 101.08 trillion (US$42.8 billion).

Installation of high voltage cables delayed

Installation of high voltage cables delayed BOGOR, West Java (JP): The completion of high voltage cables in four villages was delayed yesterday, as residents persuaded technicians and security officers to wait for the settlement of compensation claims. And residents said they were unsure whether the project to install 500-kilovolt cables would continue today. Technicians finished installing only two of seven lengths of cable Saturday.

S & P puts Matahari on CreditWatch listing

S & P puts Matahari on CreditWatch listing JAKARTA (JP): Standard and Poor's Corp has put PT Matahari Putra Prima's BB corporate credit rating and Matahari International Finance Co. B.V.'s Rp 237 billion (US$100 million) notes' BB rating on a CreditWatch list for developing implications.