Archive: 24 February 1997
52 articles found
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Delayed tax refunds
Delayed tax refunds Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad's admission of the large amount of tax-refund arrears at the Directorate General of Tax once again demonstrates how a well-designed incentive to promote exports often turns out to be meaningless due to extremely inadequate and inefficient administrative arrangements. Mar'ie acknowledged at a House hearing last week that many exporters had often complained about the long delays in tax refunds by the Directorate General of Tax.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Journalists trained in East Timor
Journalists trained in East Timor DILI, East Timor: One hundred and four journalists and public relations officials from Indonesia's 27th province of East Timor joined a three-day training program which started here last Thursday. The program was meant to prepare them to become members of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), according to secretary of East Timor's PWI Justin Herman.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ransom asked for engineer's release
Ransom asked for engineer's release ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): A government engineer was kidnapped by Moro rebels last week in a coastal town north of this southern Philippine city, reports received by police yesterday said. Rameo Laureta, 37, was kidnapped last Thursday by rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the town of Baliguian, said Senior Superintendent Merlito Te, police provincial director.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Congestion on Ciledug highway
Congestion on Ciledug highway From Pelita The Ciledug highway in Tangerang, West Java, grows worse everyday. Vehicles to and from Ciledug during peak hours often pile up for two or three kilometers. It is no surprise, therefore, that daily commuters suffer from stress and frustration because of traffic jams. One can imagine how dense the traffic is on that road in peak hours since there is no other road that connects Tangerang with the southern part of Jakarta.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Election campaign won't be used to bully: Harmoko
Election campaign won't be used to bully: Harmoko JAKARTA (JP): Ruling political group Golkar had promised not to turn the upcoming election campaign into an arena to bully other contestants. Chairman Harmoko appealed to all Golkar cadres to promote a cool and serene atmosphere during the official campaign period between April 27 and May 23, Antara reported.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ujungpandang investment
Ujungpandang investment JAKARTA (JP): PT Kawasan Industri Makassar (Kima) is inviting foreign and domestic investors to set up industrial plants in its industrial estate in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi. "We have an unoccupied area of 50 hectares in our industrial estate," Kima's president, Muis Bakidu, said in Ujungpandang yesterday.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
National Timor cars dominate domestic auto market
National Timor cars dominate domestic auto market JAKARTA (JP): Domestic vehicles sales totaled 29,830 last month, up 4.1 percent from the 28,645 sold in the same month last year, with "national" Timor cars topping the list for passenger cars. A statement issued by national car assembler PT Astra International last week reported that Timor, the sole benefactor of duty and tax breaks granted by the government, sold 1,680 cars last month.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Eleven arrested in drug crackdowns
Eleven arrested in drug crackdowns JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested nine university students and two drug peddlers in two crackdowns Saturday in Central Jakarta and seized 15 grams of heroin, 350 Ecstasy pills and a small amount of morphine. Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim said the nine university students -- seven men and two women -- were arrested at 1:30 a.m. for using morphine in a house on Jl. Cempaka Putih Timur.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Pelni to open new route
Pelni to open new route KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): State-owned oceanliner PT Pelayaran Indonesia (Pelni) will link Kupang, West Timor and Darwin, Australia, next May with the 2,000-passenger ship Lambelo. Pelni's Kupang representative Mugni Giling said here early this week the vessel was now being built in Germany. Pelni orders most of its vessels from Germany's Jos L. Meyer GmbH & Co., with Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau the usual credit provider.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sri Lanka determined to host rugby match
Sri Lanka determined to host rugby match COLOMBO (AFP): Sri Lanka has sought the help of its rugby world cup rival Singapore following claims by match organizers that Colombo was unsafe for their match, officials here said yesterday. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar wrote his Singapore counterpart Shunmugam Jayakumar on Saturday seeking his support to pressure the Dublin-based World Cup organizers to go ahead with the match in Colombo.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
ABRI told to stick to 'Dwifungsi'
ABRI told to stick to 'Dwifungsi' YOGYAKARTA (JP): A senior statesman called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) Saturday not to expand its Dwifungsi, or dual function in defense and politics, to "multifunction". Roeslan Abdoelgani said that ABRI should stick to Dwifungsi and strengthen its commitment to serving the people as the founding fathers intended.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Economists call for better customs services
Economists call for better customs services JAKARTA (JP): Economist Anwar Nasution has suggested the Directorate General of Customs and Excise win people's trust by providing better services than state-owned PT Surveyor Indonesia. Anwar, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia, said the business sector was still traumatized by the past corrupt practices of customs services.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bank Bira awarded for best investment bank
Bank Bira awarded for best investment bank JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong-based Finance Asia magazine has presented Indonesia's publicly-listed Bank Bira an award for the "best domestic investment bank" in the Asia Pacific region. The magazine gave the achievement awards to the region's best banks for their contribution to the development of Asia's capital markets and financial services.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Motorists doubt stickers will ease congestion
Motorists doubt stickers will ease congestion JAKARTA (JP): Motorists said yesterday they were not against the plan to introduce monthly stickers for entering three-in-one areas during rush hours, but were not sure the scheme would help ease traffic congestion in the city.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto returns home satisfied after 3-nation tour
Soeharto returns home satisfied after 3-nation tour JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto upon arriving home yesterday expressed satisfaction with his trip to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, and hailed the tremendous potential of a 10-member ASEAN and its combined population of 500 million. "Those numbers boast huge potential, both as a market for ASEAN products and human resources development," said Soeharto as quoted by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Amien tenders resignation from ICMI council post
Amien tenders resignation from ICMI council post JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais, chief of the experts council of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), has tendered his resignation from his post at the influential organization, citing his heavy schedule at the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization. The decision was announced on Saturday evening by the association's chairman, B.J. Habibie, only hours after Amien Rais had refuted rumors that Habibie was demanding his resignation.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Three fires over weekend
Three fires over weekend JAKARTA (JP): Three fires broke out yesterday in Central and East Jakarta, destroying dozens of homes, most of which were plywood shacks. In Petamburan, 20 shacks were razed and many more destroyed by residents to prevent the flames from spreading. The fire was thought to have originated in an empty house around 4 p.m. Firefighters had difficulty reaching the site situated along a railway. In Menteng at 6 a.m., three shacks on Jl. Anyar were gutted, leaving 27 homeless.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Suing Gus Dur a big mistake
Suing Gus Dur a big mistake From Merdeka About in the middle of the fasting month Ramadhan, Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, was reported to be threatened with defamation due to comments he made during a discussion. Gus Dur, however, was serious concerning this matter and demanded that the case be settled in court. It was a big mistake to hastily label Gus Dur as a slanderer and to threaten to take him to court.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Another Nigerian held for fake bills
Another Nigerian held for fake bills JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested a Nigerian man Saturday at 9:45 p.m. for possessing counterfeit dollars with a face value of US$2,000, one day after another Nigerian was arrested on the same charges. The latest suspect, James Olumakinwa Olorunda Oluwasanmi, a pharmacist born in 1953, told police he acquired the bills when he exchanged his Nigerian currency at a money changer at the airport in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Riot-hit Ambeno returns to normal
Riot-hit Ambeno returns to normal By Lourenco Vicente Martins AMBENO, East Timor (JP): Peace returned to this enclave yesterday after it was rocked by a riot Friday, though the fate of 329 people left homeless remains uncertain. Ambeno military district commander Lt. Col. Hambali told visiting East Timor military commander Col. Mahidin Simbolon yesterday that people in the regency, 285 kilometers west of Dili, had resumed their daily activities.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Hotel room rate incorrect
Hotel room rate incorrect The management of Hotel Patra Jasa Semarang would like to refer to THIS ODD WORLD, Irish couple make new world record, of Feb. 19, 1997. The room rate stated in this article is absolutely incorrect and we never gave any information concerning this. We really appreciate and thank you for the publication even though there was no official release from our side. JULIA Marketing Communication Manager Patra Jasa Hotel Semarang, Central Java
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
New parking fee plan unrealistic
New parking fee plan unrealistic From Pelita DKI's plan to hike present parking fees by 1,000 percent has made news recently in most media. In my opinion, the increase is too steep and wholly inconsistent with the country's economic circumstances, which still lags far behind that of advanced nations. Even if the idea is still in the planning stage, it still comes as a shock to many car owners. Not all car owners belong to the middle and upper-class brackets, who are economically much better off.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI and Australia agree to economic cooperation
RI and Australia agree to economic cooperation JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Australia-Indonesia Development Area (AIDA) business forum have agreed on a package of economic cooperation to develop Indonesia's eastern provinces and the Australian continent. The agreement was reached Saturday at the forum's first meeting in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. At the meeting, the Australian delegation was led by John Dauth while that of Indonesia was headed by Bachrum S.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Eight injured in chain collision
Eight injured in chain collision JAKARTA (JP): One person was seriously injured and seven others slightly injured in a chain collision involving four vehicles on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road Saturday. The vehicles involved in the pileup were a Mayasaribakti public bus and a bus carrying a group of reporters, a Daihatsu Taft van, and a Mazda MR sedan, Antara reported. The seriously injured person was Mayasaribakti bus passenger Eni Sumadi, 54.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Grand reception for badminton king, queen
Grand reception for badminton king, queen JP/byi JAKARTA (JP): The wedding reception for Indonesia's badminton king and queen and Olympic gold medalists Alan Budikusuma and Susi Susanti drew more than 2,000 guests to the Gran Melia Hotel last night. The guests included the Vice President (left, photo above) and Mrs.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Share expected to go flat after reaching their peak
Share expected to go flat after reaching their peak JAKARTA (JP): Trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) is expected to go flat this week because investors are waiting for announcements from the listed companies' annual financial results and new initial public offerings (IPOs). Securities analysts and brokers said that both individual and institutional investors were likely to be in "wait and see" mode.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Beeper operators find new users elusive
Beeper operators find new users elusive JAKARTA (JP): Radio paging operators face various challenges to increase the number of subscribers due to the inferior image of beepers and poorly maintained pay phones, according to telecommunications executives. President of PT Raya Pertiwi Semesta which operates Multipage beeper, Muljo Rahardjo, and president of PT Skytelindo Service which runs SkyTel beeper, F.X.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel Program: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Buck Rogers 3:05 Children's Program: Anak Anak Indonesia 3:30 TV Series: Fresh Prince of Bell Air 4:05 Science Film: Switzerland by Train 4:30 Educational Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Regional News 5:25 My Country 5:30 Health Program: Kesejahteraan Keluarga 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Development Program: Hamkamnas 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita...
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Nuclear plant still a long way from reality: Sarwono
Nuclear plant still a long way from reality: Sarwono JAKARTA (JP): Talk of a nuclear power plant in Indonesia is premature, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said Saturday. He said the country still had many other energy options, and that there were legal impediments to building a nuclear power plant. Sarwono was commenting on recent criticism of the government- sponsored nuclear power bill due to be passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI to rake in US$8.6 billion from services
RI to rake in US$8.6 billion from services JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad has projected that Indonesia will rake in $8.6 billion in foreign exchange from the services sector next fiscal year, mostly from tourism, air freight and workers remittances. Speaking at a House Budgetary Commission hearing last week, Mar'ie said the country expected to generate $7.23 billion from foreign tourism next fiscal year.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto will inaugurate dam
Soeharto will inaugurate dam SERANG, West Java: President Soeharto is scheduled to inaugurate Pamayaran dam here next month, Antara reported over the weekend. The news agency quoted Budi Soesilo, project officer of the dam development, as saying the new dam would replace the old one which had for some time been unable to meet increasing demand for both irrigation and drinking water.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
How to create masks with Magic Wand tools
How to create masks with Magic Wand tools By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): In the world of computer-graphics design, the mask is as important and essential a tool as it is in the world of politics. In CorelPHOTO-PAINT, Adobe Photoshop and other graphics image editing programs, the masks are perhaps one of the most essential tools for manipulating images. Take a look at the accompanying picture.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Accor plans more hotels in RI
Accor plans more hotels in RI JAKARTA (JP): Accor Asia Pacific Corporation, one of the world's leading hotel management firms, plans to expand its Indonesian network to 25 star-rated hotels with some 6,000 rooms by the end of this year. Company president in Indonesia, Marc A. Steinmeyer, said Saturday that Accor would open later this year five hotels under the Novotel brand.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Peter is dead
Peter is dead Peter lay in a coma for a week. First in Denpasar, in Bali Public Hospital's intensive care unit for three days until his friend found him, provided an identity and had him flown to Singapore's state-of-the-art medical facilities. Peter's mother and father came quickly from England but Peter never saw them. On Sunday, Feb. 16 -- seven days after he arrived in Bali to spend a two-week holiday -- he was already brain dead.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Govt to regreen barren land
Govt to regreen barren land PONOROGO, East Java: The administration will regreen 21,000 ha of barren land in Ponorogo under a regreening program to be launched by the forestry ministry at the end of this month, Antara reported. Budi Warsito, a local spokesman, said here Friday the regreening program included the planting of one million Merak teak trees (Gamelina gradis) in the districts of Salung, Pulung and Badegan.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia beats Malaysia to win Asia Cup c'ship
Indonesia beats Malaysia to win Asia Cup c'ship JAKARTA (JP): The old badminton rivalry between Indonesia and Malaysia was on display yesterday as the two met at the A King Asia Cup championship finals at Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium. The nation's young shuttlers proved their ability to fight in a team event when Indonesia beat Malaysia 3-0 to win the trophy and US$80,000.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta: - Chequers; The World Premier Band from USA, daily (except Sunday), 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. * Millennium Sirih Jakarta, Jl. Fachrudin 3, Jakarta: - The Lobby Lounge; Sahata Group, daily, 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. * Grand Hyatt Jakarta, Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta: - Fountain Lounge; Klasiko Suprema from the Philippines, daily (except Tuesday), 8:30 p.m.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutors urged to begin Udin trial
Prosecutors urged to begin Udin trial SEMARANG (JP): Senior law expert Muladi urged prosecutors in Yogyakarta Saturday to begin the trial of the man suspected by police of murdering journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, better known as Udin. The Yogyakarta prosecutor's office has rejected the dossiers of Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, filed four times by the police on the grounds that the documents were "incomplete".
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Do not generalize about newcomers: Expert
Do not generalize about newcomers: Expert JAKARTA (JP): A criminologist has said only a minority of the newcomers to the capital are likely to end up as criminals. Harkristuti Herkrisnowo said it would take newcomers a relatively long time to become criminals. The surroundings and individuals' personalities would be the main contributing factors, she said. But crimes here are not predominantly committed by the newly arrived, unskilled migrants, Harkristuti said.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Fires leave nearly 6,000 homeless in two months
Fires leave nearly 6,000 homeless in two months JAKARTA (JP): Fires in January and February left 5,973 city people homeless. Four thousand of those lost homes in two fires in the Kelapa Gading district, North Jakarta. The fire department recorded 5,701 homes lost in 35 fires up to Feb. 20, while in January, 42 fires destroyed 272 people's homes. On Saturday victims of the Feb. 12 fire in the Pegangsaan Dua subdistrict, Kelapa Gading, were still living in tents, on land flooded by rains.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ayala gets water contract
Ayala gets water contract MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines awarded contracts for Manila's water distribution to two groups led by Ayala Corp and Benpres Holdings Corp, state-agency Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said on Saturday. MWSS said in a statement that Public Works Secretary Gregorio Vigilar had signed the contracts with representatives of the Ayala and Benpres consortia.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Exporters target ASEAN markets
Exporters target ASEAN markets JAKARTA (JP): Exporters in Asia, Australia and New Zealand will target members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as main export destinations for at least one year, a survey concluded. "Over the next 12 months, ASEAN countries are perceived to be a growth area for exports by at least 40 percent of exporters in seven of 15 countries surveyed," the survey said.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Hundreds of dog breeds shown at Pantai Mutiara
Hundreds of dog breeds shown at Pantai Mutiara JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of breeds were shown in a one-day dog show yesterday sponsored by the All Indonesian Kennel Club and Dharmala Intiland, the club's spokesman said yesterday at Pantai Mutiara, North Jakarta. Hadi Iskandar said about 450 local and imported breeds were classified into five groups, including Boxers, Dobermans and poodles, and scored only on their anatomies, not skills.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Shipping sector to be revamped
Shipping sector to be revamped JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad promised last week to make "structural deregulations" to the shipping sector so it could contribute more to the country's economy. Mar'ie suggested that "structural deregulations" aimed at the most basic aspects in the shipping sector should be made in order to increase the role of the sector's services in the economy.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
More hotels in Ambon
More hotels in Ambon AMBON, Maluku (JP): An Ambon-based joint venture company has a plan to build a three-star hotel under a foreign investment scheme here with a total investment of Rp 120 billion (US$50.8 million), a business executive said here on Saturday. Mien Hadjid Mochtar, a consultant for the construction of the hotel, was quoted by Antara as saying that the 120-room hotel would be built on a plot of 2.6 hectares of land.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sigit and Chandra aim for records set by senior players
Sigit and Chandra aim for records set by senior players By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): With four Grand Prix titles to their names, the current World No. 1 men's doubles Sigit Budiarto and Chandra Wijaya of Indonesia still feel they are a shadow of their senior compatriots and 1996 Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky. "People know them much better than us. But we're not surprised, because they are our seniors and they won the Olympic title.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Plug leaks first
Plug leaks first Managing the business of parking in Indonesia's big cities is like trying unravel a knot of tangled yarn. So many cars park in parking lots every day, and yet the revenue earned by the city administration, which manages the business, constantly falls short of target. So many parking attendants are on the job, and yet the safety of the vehicles parked is not assured.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
PPP asks ulemas to reach political consensus
PPP asks ulemas to reach political consensus JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) asked ulemas from all the three political groups yesterday to convene before the May 29 general election in order to reach political consensus. PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said in a post-Idul Fitri gathering with some 300 ulemas from all over Indonesia that the meeting is expected to decide on moral guidance both for political groups and the government.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Museum to be renovated
Museum to be renovated DENPASAR, Bali: The Puri Ubud Painting Museum, 40 km east of here, is in need of massive renovation in order to continue functioning as a prestigious cultural spot, museum director Tjokorda Raka Kertyasa said here Saturday. The renovation, to start in March, is expected to cost Rp 160 million (US$67,740), Kertyasa was quoted by Antara as saying.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
U.S. firm to manage star hotel in Bali
U.S. firm to manage star hotel in Bali JAKARTA (JP): The United States-based hotel chain, Country Inns and Suites by Carlson is to operate and manage the star- rated Bukit Nusa Hotel in Bali. The license and management agreement was signed recently by the American hotel chain's Indonesian representative, Michael Hughes, and Komang Setiabudi, the president of PT Kreasi Taman Mumbul, which will own the hotel.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Racial issue not new in Australia
Racial issue not new in Australia By Kristanyo Hardojo JAKARTA (JP): It has been more than a quarter of a century since Australia formally buried its "White Australia" policy, the infamous attempt to attract European-only immigrants. But lately after the installation of John Howard's government, the old issue of race has reared its ugly head again. This time, it was triggered off by federal independent member of Oxley, Pauline Hanson.
Mon, 24 Feb 1997, 00:00 WIB
Four more companies join KualiVa
Four more companies join KualiVa JAKARTA (JP): Four companies joined KualiVa, a business alliance that promotes the member firms' products and services by offering savable discounts, on Saturday. The agreements on the KualiVa membership were signed here by eight members of KualiVa's executive council, led by Hari Darmawan, and representatives of the four companies -- PT Grita Artha Kreamindo, PT Skytelindo Services, PT Persada Komindo and PT Raya Pertiwi Semesta.