Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 11 February 1997

45 articles found

Pensioners in office?

Pensioners in office? From Republika Some months ago the office of the Jakarta Administration held a selection of civil servant candidates for employment in its office. At the time of announcement, it came to light that only a minimal percentage of the participants were accepted. I was among the unsuccessful applicants and I am not satisfied with the outcome of the shortlist.

Women workers

Women workers From Merdeka I read with a sigh of relief the article in Merdeka (Jan. 31, 1997), on Kriminalita (Criminality) concerning the arrest of phony policemen and employees of the Ministry of Manpower. Crimes have been uncovered at last! The authorities are apparently very sensitive of the reports given by the victims. The victims had been extorted by phony apparatuses who seemed to have a clear knowledge of the arrival of women workers at Soekarno-Hatta airport. At dawn on Jan.

Credit for modest homes unavailable

Credit for modest homes unavailable JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Developers Association has expressed concern over the unavailability of bank credit to build low-cost houses in several provinces, including West Java, South Sumatra and East Java. Association Vice Chairman Herman Soedarsono said last week that if the situation remained unchanged for long, the country would barely meet its target of 500,000 low-cost houses in the Sixth Five Year Development Plan.

Unemployment remains big problem in E. Timor

Unemployment remains big problem in E. Timor DILI (JP): Unemployment remains a headache for many East Timorese as their education level is improving but the local job market is unable to absorb the increasingly qualified workforce, a local official says. Chief of the East Timor provincial manpower office Ign. Mujihartono said last week that unemployment in the territory of 800,000 people is so serious a national effort would be needed to solve it.

Crimes spice up 'Takbiran' night

Crimes spice up 'Takbiran' night JAKARTA (JP): Idul Fitri eve, known as Takbiran, was marred by several thefts. A thief broke into the State Minister of Environment's office on Jl. DI Panjaitan, East Jakarta. Police shoot the thief, identified as Muiji, who tried to make off with telephones and cables at 7:30 p.m., Antara reported. The suspect was a scavenger from Cianjur, West Java. He now lives in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta.

Mutual funds effective as of December 20, 1996

Mutual funds effective as of December 20, 1996 Name Investment management Net Asset Value (in Rp billion) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BDNI Reksadana PT BDNI Securities 343.42 Reksa Dana MMF PT BDNI Securities 30.24 Danareksa Anggrek PT Danareksa Fund Management 104.31 Danareksa Mawar PT Danarekas Fund Management 101.02 Danareksa Melati PT Danareksa Fund Management 366.66 Bahana Dana Abadi PT Bahana TCW Investment Management 55.68 Bahana...

Fewer passengers travel by train during holidays

Fewer passengers travel by train during holidays JAKARTA (JP): Railway transportation experienced a decline in the number of passengers this Idul Fitri season but earnings rose, a railway official said Saturday. "We projected a 10 percent increase in passengers this year but the figure turned out lower," Jakarta chief of railway company Perumka Eddy Sasongko told Antara. He declined to specify by how much the number of passengers dropped, saying he had yet to collect complete data.

Foreign policy on East Timor

Foreign policy on East Timor The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C., would like to convey its appreciation to those who have shown a keen interest and empathy toward the struggle of Indonesia's diplomats abroad, detailed in the article Clinton, RI opposed on East Timor (Jan. 23). The article focused on Indonesia's foreign policy and diplomacy, particularly in reference to the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and the United States.

Security for 'lebaran'

Security for 'lebaran' From Kompas We have often been informed by the mass media about this year's Lebaran transportation. The Department of Transportation is doing its best to fulfill public demand, either by providing more buses, trains, or additional lines. Seen superficially, everything seems to be in order. Of all available transportation means though, trains are the most popular choice of the people. Trains seem to be the safest and most reasonable way of traveling to the public.

President Soeharto leads the first 'Takbir'

President Soeharto leads the first 'Takbir' JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto led the first takbir (praise to Allah), marking the end of Ramadhan and the coming of Idul Fitri celebrations, in a mass gathering at the National Monument (Monas) park Saturday. The President chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) repeatedly after striking Indonesia's largest bedug (traditional drum) in a rhythmical beat. The bedug was specially brought from an old mosque in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.

Reforestation funds of Kiani not used

Reforestation funds of Kiani not used JAKARTA (JP): PT Kiani Kertas, owned by timber magnate Mohamad (Bob) Hasan, has nearly completed its pulp and paper plant but has not touched the Rp 250 billion (US$108.7 million) loan from reforestation funds. Company president Machnan R. Kamaluddin said the company had not yet used the money because its own funds had been sufficient. "The loan was given as a standby facility," Machnan was quoted by Republika as saying.

Mutual funds set up to lure local investors

Mutual funds set up to lure local investors JAKARTA (JP): Mutual funds are hoping to lure more local investors into the capital market which is still dominated by foreign investors. Many analysts agree that more mutual funds would benefit the local stock exchange by strengthening the domestic investor base. The chairman of the Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam), I Putu Ary Suta, said the 1995 Capital Market Law had encouraged the establishment of mutual funds, especially open-end funds.

Mining area for farmland

Mining area for farmland JAKARTA (JP): State-owned tin mining company PT Timah Bangka is cooperating with the University of Sriwijaya to convert old mining pits into agricultural lands. Company president director Erry Eriyana Hardjapamekas said Friday in Palembang that the company, along with the university, had conducted a pilot project in 1996 to convert the company's abandoned mining pit in Bangka island into fishponds. They have also tried to plant hybrid corns on the abandoned mining pit.

Goldstrike the largest U.S. gold producer

Goldstrike the largest U.S. gold producer Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold Corp. is engaged in a long- running wrangle over the Busang gold mine in East Kalimantan, one of the world's richest gold finds. Barrick recently invited a number of Indonesian journalists to visit its Goldstrike mine in Elko, Nevada, U.S. -- the largest gold producer in North America. The Jakarta Post's journalist Benget Simbolon joined the tour. The following is his story on Goldstrike.

Thai railway firm in Laos

Thai railway firm in Laos Bangkok (DPA): A Thai steel manufacturer has won a concession to build more than 1,200 kilometers of railway track in neighboring Laos that could eventually link Thailand to China, a company source said yesterday.

Aceh protects forests

Aceh protects forests JAKARTA (JP): The provincial administration of Aceh will not issue anymore permits for forest concessions in the area, Nirwan Jailani, an Aceh Forestry Agency official, said over the weekend. Nirwan, who heads the forestry management division, said no more new concessions would be granted to private investors because forest conditions had reached a "critical point". He said uncontrolled logging practices had damaged the area's forests, including its preserved forests.

Water treatment plant

Water treatment plant JAKARTA (JP): The West Java administration is inviting Medco Group to establish a waste water treatment plant to process liquid industrial waste in the greater Bandung area, West Java, said the province's vice governor, H.M.A. Sampurna. He said in Bandung over the weekend that Medco Group had spent Rp 600 million (US$251,000) on a feasibility study of its plan to set up the plant, which would process waste from the industrial areas of Dayeuhkolot and Cimahi.

Man resurrected after three days

Man resurrected after three days KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A 76-year-old villager came to life again three days after his relatives pronounced him dead late November, eyewitnesses said last week. The man, Daud Dafa from Tusabela village, western Kupang, had undergone treatment at the Kupang General Hospital for symptoms related to old age.

Indonesian music groups' names

Indonesian music groups' names From Republika Why do Indonesian music groups have foreign names? Bad Apples, AB Three, Base Camp, Five Minutes and most recently R42 who has stated that it must be spelled the English way. Watching their video clips I was somewhat taken by surprise. Afterwards I was amused. Their traits surfaced often enough.

Australia and Italy clinch early wins

Australia and Italy clinch early wins PARIS (Agencies): Australia and Italy made sure of their places in the Davis Cup quarter-finals 24 hours early on Saturday when victories in the doubles gave them unbeatable 3-0 leads. In the Asia-Oceania Group tie between Indonesia and the Philippines, the visitors came from 0-2 defeat in the first two singles to 3-2 victory.

National park status sought for

National park status sought for JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya; The provincial forestry office has proposed the central government make the Wasur forests in Merauke district, a national park. Kayat R. Sutaryo, the forestry office's chief, said in a letter to State Minister of Administrative Reforms TB Silalahi that the forest was the habitat of hundreds of precious animal and plant species. Covering 413,810 hectares the Wasur forests are in the eastern part of Merauke district.

Idul Fitri a chance to return to one's roots

Idul Fitri a chance to return to one's roots By Listiana Operananta and Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Celebrating Idul Fitri in their home villages is a chance for many city people to touch base with their family's culture and to go back to their roots, experts say. The phenomena has baffled many people, including officials and even academics, because it has developed into a massive annual exodus of people from big cities to rural villages.

Pontianak returns to normal

Pontianak returns to normal JAKARTA: Tension is gradually subsiding in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak after weeks of reported enmity and clashes between indigenous Dayak tribesmen and migrant Madurese from East Java. A military official said yesterday that previously-closed roads connecting the capital and several suburban towns had been reopened allowing the transportation of men and materials. Traffic has returned to normal, the official said.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Ibis Kemayoran Hotel, Jl. Bungur Besar Raya 79-81, Central Jakarta: - Chaplin's Bar; Brigitta and Wisnu (organist/pianist), Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Alamanda Restaurant: Gamelan Bali, Saturday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Special Valentine Package, on Feb.14 * Dai-ichi Hotel, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta: - Morgan's 1072 Classic Disco: - Boombastic Band, Saturday, 9.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Smart Band, Wednesday, 9 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.

Tambang Timah's output

Tambang Timah's output JAKARTA (JP): State-owned tin mining company PT Tambang Timah is set to increase its annual production to 47,000 tons of tin this year, from 41,000 tons last year. Company president Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas was quoted by Antara as saying in Palembang last week that the company wants to increase production due to favorable export market prices. He did not reveal the volume or value of the company's exports.

Malaysia idles for twin festivals

Malaysia idles for twin festivals By Christina Pantin KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia's economic boom is grinding to an almost complete halt, but festivals, not fiscal measures, are responsible for the production pause. For the second straight year, the country is observing two major holidays back-to-back -- the Chinese Lunar Year and the Moslem Eid al-Fitr. The festivities will shut down most factories, plantations and businesses for a week.

'Radio Australia' has loyal audience in Indonesia

'Radio Australia' has loyal audience in Indonesia By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Radio Australia will be greatly missed in Indonesia if the proposal to close down its foreign services goes ahead. Several loyal listeners said during the weekend that closing the Indonesian service would deprive them of a source of information not only about Australia, but also about Indonesia.

Emdeki builds power plant

Emdeki builds power plant JAKARTA (JP): Carbide producer PT Emdeki Utama, a subsidiary of PT Metropolitan Development, has signed a contract with Siemens Netherlands NV to build a US$15 million gas-fueled power station aimed at cutting its production costs. According to Emdeki president Hiskak Secakusuma, Siemens would involve ING Bank of the Netherlands in providing a loan of $14 million for the construction of the power plant, which would have a generation capacity of 15 Megawatts.

TV and movie actor dies

TV and movie actor dies JAKARTA (Antara): Film and television movie actor Ryan Hidayat, 26, died of a complication at Puri Cinere hospital Saturday. "We really lost him. He suffered from typhoid and dengue," said his aunt Ance. Ance said Hidayat had suffered from typhoid for a few months but was too motivated to finish a film he was making to rest. Hidayat, who started his carrier at the age of four, was admitted to hospital Tuesday.

Australia okays new Timor oil project

Australia okays new Timor oil project SYDNEY (AFP): The Australian government gave the go-ahead yesterday for a one billion Australian dollar (US$760 million) oil development project in the Timor Sea. The government granted a license to Woodside Petroleum Ltd. to develop along with two joint venture partners two areas of oil fields known as Laminaria and Corallina with total development costs of around A$1.08 billion.

Higher profit of $751.5m expected at PT Telkom

Higher profit of $751.5m expected at PT Telkom JAKARTA (JP): ING Baring Securities Ltd. expects state-owned telecommunications firm PT Telkom to post a net profit of Rp 1.8 trillion (US$751.5 million), up from Rp 1.49 trillion last year. Next year, it predicts that Telkom will gain Rp 2.22 trillion in net profit, ING Baring said in its latest report Asian Telecommunications Reviews.

Idul Fitri: A time to meet, greet and celebrate

Idul Fitri: A time to meet, greet and celebrate JAKARTA (JP): Sunday and Monday were happy days and an opportunity to meet relatives and elders. Millions attended prayers ending the Ramadhan fasting month before leaving to visit friends and relatives, go on recreation trips or spend a moment at the graves of their deceased. At this time of year Moslems get an extra reminder they are not only supposed to care for the less fortunate, but that part of their fortunes were the rights of the poor.

Jailed political activists cook for fellow inmates

Jailed political activists cook for fellow inmates JAKARTA (JP): Jailed political activists in Cipinang prison, East Jakarta, made special menus for fellow prisoners Sunday.

Citra, Drassindo eye Grogol-Tangerang road

Citra, Drassindo eye Grogol-Tangerang road JAKARTA (JP): Citra Group and Drassindo Group have pledged their readiness to submit tenders for the government's 30- kilometer Grogol-Tangerang elevated toll road project. Bambang Soeroso, chief executive officer of Citra Group's holding company PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, expressed his company's ambition to win the bid.

Fatal robbery enacted

Fatal robbery enacted JAKARTA (JP): Police re-enacted Saturday the Jagorawi toll road robbery, which took place on Oct. 11 last year and claimed one life, without the two main suspects . The two suspects, identified as Bud alias Win and Sal, alias Is, are still at large and two officers played them in the reconstruction. The reconstruction, which involved three suspects, IJA, Mc and Ag, was attended by the suspects' lawyer Agustinus Mudjiman.

Four people confirmed as suspects in Tasikmalaya riots

Four people confirmed as suspects in Tasikmalaya riots JAKARTA (JP): Four people will be named suspects in the West Java's recent fatal riots and may be charged with subversion, an official said Sunday. Antara quoted the head of West Java prosecution office, M. Adenan, in Bandung as saying one of the four had been held for questioning since 10 days ago, while the arrest warrant for the other three was to be issued soon. He identified the four as AGS, 24, AM, 24, MH, 24 and AF, 25.

Indofood to sell stake in PT Artha

Indofood to sell stake in PT Artha JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, an affiliate of the giant Salim Group, is selling its stake in instant coffee producer PT Artha Nugraha Mandiri. Indofood's chief executive officer, Eva Rijanti Hutapea, said last week there was one potential buyer for the company located in Semarang, Central Java. "But we do not know what transaction price the buyer is offering," Bisnis Indonesia quoted her as saying last week.

KL to investigate kidnap in Angola

KL to investigate kidnap in Angola KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has instructed its High Commission (embassy) in Harare to investigate news reports of a Malaysian kidnapped in Angola, a senior minister said yesterday.

ABC signing off

ABC signing off Nothing definite about the matter has yet to be made public but it seems almost certain that in a few months 2.8 million Indonesians will be deprived of some of their best-loved radio programs.

Villagers undeterred by Mount Merapi eruption

Villagers undeterred by Mount Merapi eruption By Haryoso SEMARANG (JP): Central Java Governor Soewardi went ballistic on hearing residents of Sambirejo village on the slopes of Mount Merapi had refused to evacuate when the volcano erupted last month. The people that live about 10 kilometers from the mountain's summit seemed to challenge the clouds of hot ash, the burning lava streaming down the slopes, the tremors and the occasional bangs.

Thousands flock favorite city holiday spots

Thousands flock favorite city holiday spots JAKARTA (JP): The mood of Idul Fitri yesterday and Sunday was brightened by thousands flocking to favorite spots like Ancol Dream Land, Taman Mini, Ragunan Zoo and the Bogor Safari Park. On Sunday in the North Jakarta coastal resort area of Ancol people were rocked by dangdut music with veteran singers like A. Rafiq and Hamdan ATT, local Betawi comedy group Si Doel..

Muslems celebrate Idul Fitri

Muslems celebrate Idul Fitri JAKARTA (JP): Moslems across the country celebrated Sunday the post-Ramadhan holiday immediately after saying the Idul Fitri prayers highlighted by preachers' calls for national unity and religious co-existence. Hundreds of thousands of people in their best clothes joined President Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno and senior government officials and foreign dignitaries when they said their prayer at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, Central Jakarta.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Berentain Bears 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:05 Music: Gelar Musik 3:30 Science Film: Four Minute Mile 4:00 News: Lintasan Berita 4:05 Idul Fitri Program: Hikmah Idul Fitri 4:30 Teenagers' Program: Drama Remaja 5:00 Regional News 5:30 English Lessons 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 News: Siaran Pedesaan 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:25 Filler and Trailer 7:30 Religious Teachings: Belief in God...

Soil disease killed 19 last year

Soil disease killed 19 last year SINGAPORE (Reuter): The mysterious soil disease melioidosis killed 19 people and infected 70 in Singapore last year, the Straits Times newspaper said yesterday. It said there had been little advance in efforts to find a cure or improve diagnosis or treatment of the disease, found mainly in Southeast Asia.

Group of Seven calls for halt to dollar's rise

Group of Seven calls for halt to dollar's rise BERLIN (AFP): The Group of Seven leading industrial nations came down hard Saturday against further rise in the U.S. dollar and hinted they would intervene on currency markets if the volatility continued, in a text released by the seven delegations. "We reaffirmed our views that exchange rates should reflect economic fundamentals and that excess volatility is undesirable," said the statement, which was read out verbatim by U.S.