Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 15 April 1997

53 articles found

Yemen satisfied with 0-0 draw against RI

Yemen satisfied with 0-0 draw against RI JAKARTA (JP): Yemeni soccer coach Hazim Jassam said he was satisfied with his team's 0-0 draw against Indonesia in Sunday's World Cup Asian zone qualifier at the Senayan stadium. "With the draw, we are confident we will win the home-away match in our country," Hazim said after the match. The match was the first time Indonesia had met Yemen in the zone qualifier. They will meet again June 13 in Saana, Yemen.

PT Amsteel to launch two mutual funds

PT Amsteel to launch two mutual funds JAKARTA (JP): PT Amsteel Securities Indonesia will launch two mutual funds by the end of the year. Amsteel's director, Eric Y Nasution, said yesterday the company aimed to collect about Rp 200 billion (US$84.03 million) through the funds by offering about 200 million units. "So each unit will have a value of Rp 1,000," he said. Eric said the two funds would be invested in the fixed income and equity markets.

New flood controls for N. Jakarta

New flood controls for N. Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Residents in North Jakarta can look forward to an end to the constant flooding in their area thanks to three new flood control projects to begin this week. But an official in charge of the flood control projects said the projects would not guarantee an end to all flooding. Siswoko, the head of the Ciliwung Cisadane river improvement project under the Ministry of Public Works, said yesterday the projects to protect Rawa Badak, Pademangan and Jl.

Workers' burnt bodies arrive

Workers' burnt bodies arrive SURABAYA: The charred bodies of two Indonesian women workers arrived here last night from Hong Kong, Antara reported yesterday. Sunarlik, 29, was a resident of Trenyang village in Sumber Pucung, Malang, while Rukayah Dul Basir was from Sumber Rejo village in Sanan Kulon, Blitar regency. The two women, working as domestic helpers, died of suffocation along with six other people after becoming trapped in an apartment in the Mei Kowloon area.

Golkar to spend Rp 1.5b for artists

Golkar to spend Rp 1.5b for artists JAKARTA (JP): The city-chapter of the ruling Golkar estimates it will spend Rp 1.5 billion (US$652,173) to pay the 300 artists participating in Golkar's nine campaign rounds. The head of Golkar's arts and culture bureau said most of the artists were popular dangdut singers, such as Jaja Mihardja and Evie Tamala. "They will liven up the campaign," Dewa said yesterday. "Healthy entertainment" is permitted by the campaign rules.

President delays contract of work for Busang mine

President delays contract of work for Busang mine JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has delayed the issue of the contracts of work (COW) for Bre-X and its partners to develop its Busang gold mine in Kalimantan, the minister of mines and energy, I.B. Sudjana, said yesterday. Sudjana said the President would not make a decision on Bre- X's applications until an independent team assessing the Busang's gold reserves had finished.

7,500 trees planted in Jember

7,500 trees planted in Jember JEMBER, East Java: Hundreds of youth organizations, teachers, musicians and other members of the community worked together Sunday to plant 7,500 trees along the Bedadung River. Ten villages in the districts of Patrang, Sumbersari and Kaliwates, are included in the regreening drive. The activists also cleaned up the river. Regent Winarno said the drive was meant to improve the quality of the 7.5 kilometer river that runs across the city of Jember.

KL to use spies to curb corruption

KL to use spies to curb corruption KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia's Home Ministry will appoint "spies" in several of its departments in a bid to curb corruption especially among police and immigration officials, news reports said yesterday. Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob named the police and immigration departments as the top two agencies under the ministry where corruption was rampant, although he could not give any figures.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 14, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,025 0 0 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,175 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,025 -25 1,014,000 Alumindo Perkasa 675 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,175 0 209,000 Anwar Sierad 825 0 54,500 Apac Centertex Corp.

The Jagorawi robbery and murder trial begins

The Jagorawi robbery and murder trial begins BOGOR (JP): The trial of two men charged with being accessories to robbery and murder on the Jagorawi toll road last October began yesterday. The trial is being conducted at the Bogor District Court in two separate rooms with the same prosecution teams. The first defendant is Erling Doly Wijaya, alias Mikel, alias Handoko (31). The second defendant is Heri Faisal alias Hendrik (28).

Sugar plant in Sulawesi

Sugar plant in Sulawesi JAKARTA (JP): PT Sumber Madu Bukari will build a Rp 200 billion (US$82.6 million) sugar plant in Southeast Sulawesi later this month. The head of the provincial administration's plantation agency, Soewondo, was quoted yesterday by Antara as saying the company had secured 20,000 hectares of agricultural land to supply the plant with sugar cane. The plant will have an initial production capacity of 6,000 tons of sugar a year. (rid)

Rp 4.6t for mutual fund

Rp 4.6t for mutual fund JAKARTA (JP): PT Astek, the state-owned social worker insurance company under Ministry of Manpower supervision, will invest about Rp 4.6 trillion (US$1.93 billion) in mutual funds. The company has assets of Rp 7 trillion. The minister of manpower, Abdul Latief, said the rest of the funds would be invested in state bank deposits.

FAST FACT FILE

FAST FACT FILE Name of golf club : Finna Golf and Country Club Address : Jl. Raya Barsari Prigen, Pandaan 67156, Ja-Tim, Indonesia Telephone : 62 343 632153-5 Fax: 62 343 632156 Developer : Pacific Golf Course Designer : Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge, Ross Perrett Date Opened : 12 December 1993 Total no.

Tight security urged for election campaigns

Tight security urged for election campaigns JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP), which has denied triggering recent unrest in Central Java, urged the Armed Forces yesterday to secure the April 27 to May 23 election campaigns. The Moslem-based party accused security authorities of doing nothing to stop people attacking PPP activists on their way to party anniversary celebrations in Wonosobo, Central Java, last week.

Kalimantan Madurese may be resettled

Kalimantan Madurese may be resettled JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Madurese migrants may be moved to another province in the wake of the recent ethnic clashes in West Kalimantan, a cabinet minister said yesterday. Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yodohusodo said the government would help resettle the migrants under the state- sponsored transmigration program. The transmigrants from Madura island, East Java, were engaged in a series of bloody clashes with indigenous Dayaks earlier this year.

Government mulls tax incentives for timber estates

Government mulls tax incentives for timber estates JAKARTA (JP): The minister of forestry, Djamaluddin Suryohadikusumo, said yesterday he was looking at tax incentives to encourage investors to develop industrial timber estates. "We are considering an incentive allowing industrial timber estates to delay the payment of their property tax until they fell the trees they have planted," the minister said after opening a national ministry workshop.

Few rescued orangutans go back to natural wild

Few rescued orangutans go back to natural wild TANJUNG PUTING, Central Kalimantan (JP): Before Gistok was brought to Tanjung Puting National Park and orangutan rehabilitation center, he wore clothing over his long red hair and ate tea and cakes with the children of a family in Central Kalimantan. A princely existence for an orangutan, but table manners don't help when it comes to survival in the forest.

Holidays, weak demand to hit SE Asia rubber prices

Holidays, weak demand to hit SE Asia rubber prices SINGAPORE (Reuter): A string of holidays in Southeast Asia along with soft demand will keep rubber prices in the doldrums this week, regional traders said yesterday. "It's going to be a terrible week. I don't think demand will be good because many of the producers will be on vacation with all the holidays we're having this week," a dealer for a North American trading house based in Singapore told Reuters.

200,000 welcome victorious team

200,000 welcome victorious team DHAKA (AFP): About 200,000 people packed central Dhaka yesterday to welcome the Bangladesh cricket team that produced the country's greatest sporting moment by winning the ICC Trophy. Police battled to stop crowds breaking through a security cordon to get to a special bus taking the team to the main Manik Mia Avenue where the ceremony was broadcast live by national television.

Death knell sounded for Asia's only coffee contract

Death knell sounded for Asia's only coffee contract SINGAPORE (AFP): Two years after its high-profile launch, Asia's sole coffee futures contract is on its death bed amid poor support from traders whose links with liquidity driven Western exchanges are firmly rooted. But the Robusta Coffee Futures contract traded on the Singapore Commodity Exchange Ltd. (SICOM) would not be scrapped, a top exchange official said as he left open the question of resuscitating the contract.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. News: Lintas Nusantara 2:40 Travel: My Country 2:45 Children's Film: Berenstain Bears 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:10 Teenagers' Program: Remaja Indonesia 3:35 Music: Lagu Pop Daerah 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Science and Technology Program 5:00 English Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Documentary Film 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 6:53 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Filler and Trailer 7:35 Talk Show: Wawasan...

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Horison, Jl. Pantai Indah, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, North Jakarta: - The Anging Mamiri Garden: Fantastic Group from Philippines, Ever Green Hawaian Band / Orkes Keroncong, Hula-hula Dances, every Saturday Night, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Nelayan Bar: Sandra Lintang, Yully, Purwanto (electone & singers), Monday to Sunday, 9 p.m. to midnight. - Pondok Samudra: Dolimas Vocal Group, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

SembCorp may offer shares for Jurong

SembCorp may offer shares for Jurong SINGAPORE (Reuter): SembCorp Ltd said yesterday it was considering offering new SembCorp shares and cash as an alternative to just cash in its takeover offer for Jurong Shipyard. In a statement issued by SembCorp's financial adviser, Standard Chartered Merchant Bank Asia Ltd, SembCorp said it will be seeking approval from shareholders for the share cum cash alternative.

Telkomsel or not Telkomsel

Telkomsel or not Telkomsel On March 28, I bought a Kartu Halo handphone card (No.823239) from a Telkomsel promotion stand in Bintaro Plaza. I produced all required identification and took my new card home, assured by the sales staff that it would be active that evening. In the afternoon of March 29, the card was still inactive and I received a phone call from Telkomsel informing me that I needed to send them a reference letter from my company before they could activate my card.

Marubeni funds RI coal

Marubeni funds RI coal TOKYO (Reuter): Marubeni Corp and Sumitomo Corp said yesterday they would provide US$100 million for Indonesia's P.T. Indominco Mandiri's coal mine project in Kalimantan. A statement said each of the Japanese companies would provide $35 million in 10-year loan and acquire $15 million worth of convertible bonds of the Indonesian firm. An official at Sumitomo declined to give further details.

Anthony Salim to join reclamation project

Anthony Salim to join reclamation project JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb.M. Rais said yesterday that Anthony Salim of the widely diversified Salim group would join the reclamation project in the Jakarta Bay. A memorandum of understanding between Anthony, the group's vice-president, and the city administration's North Jakarta Reclamation Implementation Board was signed Friday, he said.

Singapore rubber quiet

Singapore rubber quiet SINGAPORE (Reuter): The Singapore rubber market was largely quiet at the close yesterday although some consumers were said to have done some spot deals for SIR20 rubber from Indonesia, dealers said. "I heard there was some buying for SIR20 rubber from Indonesia," a dealer said. But the rest of the market was quiet, with the Songkran Buddhist New Year holiday in Thailand sidelining most of the Thai sellers in the regional rubber market, dealers said. "It was quiet.

Plan to review ABRI's role meet mixed reactions

Plan to review ABRI's role meet mixed reactions JAKARTA (JP): Army generals want the Armed Forces (ABRI) to give Golkar greater independence, a military analyst said yesterday. J. Kristiadi of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the generals were concerned by ABRI's partiality toward the dominant Golkar. This was indicated by their call to evaluate the implementation of the soldiers' oath Sapta Marga.

Stiffer penalties for criminals

Stiffer penalties for criminals From Republika Criminals are increasingly becoming vicious, without any regard to who their victims are. Among their victims are officials. Just take, for instance, the fatal incident in which a resort police chief of Mamuju district, South Sulawesi, lost his life, which was reported in Republika, on April 4, 1997.

'Governor a model for subordinates'

'Governor a model for subordinates' JAKARTA (JP): Inspector General of the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Governor Surjadi Soedirdja was an exemplary model for his subordinates. Soedardjat Nataatmaja, however, said that Soedirja was not supported by officials of equal quality. After a council meeting yesterday, he said that this was the main conclusion of an inspection of the municipality's performance under Surjadi.

PDI members told to cast their votes

PDI members told to cast their votes JAKARTA (JP): The government-backed leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) joined the chorus yesterday against calls for a boycott of the election. The PDI chairman Soerjadi said in a speech delivered in the party's 24th anniversary celebration in Sigli, Aceh, on Sunday that the leadership of the PDI had always encouraged party members to vote. "We call on all eligible citizens to vote for whatever political party they like.

Prosecutor demands 15 years jail for youth activist

Prosecutor demands 15 years jail for youth activist JAKARTA (JP): The prosecutor in the subversion trial of youth activist Budiman Sudjatmiko asked the court yesterday to sentence him to 15 years in jail for his alleged role in undermining the state ideology Pancasila. The demand was made in the absence of the defendant and his lawyers. Prosecutor M.

Illegal pet trade persists despite regulations

Illegal pet trade persists despite regulations TANJUNG PUTING, Central Kalimantan (JP): The existence of Tanjung Puting and four other rehabilitation centers in Indonesia and Malaysia is proof enough that the illegal orangutan trade still thrives. Indonesia outlawed the capture, ownership or killing of an orangutan in 1931, but individuals doing exactly those activities share responsibility for the great ape's status as an endangered species.

250 supervisors for Day of Sacrifice

250 supervisors for Day of Sacrifice JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will send 200 university students and 50 veterinarians to check the health of animals to be slaughtered on the Islamic day of Sacrifice on April 18. Sumitro, the head of the City's Animal Husbandry Agency, said yesterday that the husbandry agency's officials would also be involved in checking the animals.

Sinar Mas' CPO plants

Sinar Mas' CPO plants JAKARTA (JP): The Sinar Mas Group will build two more crude palm oil refineries in South Kalimantan to accommodate the expansion of its oil palm plantations in the province. Sinar Mas' director, Tan Siaw Liang, said yesterday his group would open 6,500 hectares of new oil palm plantations in Kotabaru district where it will build two more refineries.

Court cross-examines Zarina in Ecstasy trial

Court cross-examines Zarina in Ecstasy trial JAKARTA (JP): The defendant in an Ecstasy case admitted yesterday that she did have keys to a safe containing 29,677 pills, contradicting her earlier claims. But two different keys were needed to open the safe and she only had two copies of one of them. Zarina Mirafsur told the court that before the police arrived on Aug. 7 last year she had tried to open the safe at her home in West Jakarta, because she was curious about its contents.

Neptune to be major global carrier

Neptune to be major global carrier SINGAPORE (Reuter): Neptune Orient Lines Ltd (NOL)'s US$825 million takeover of U.S. container carrier APL Ltd will make NOL a major global carrier with more clout on the trans-Pacific route, NOL officials said yesterday. "We will be enhancing our shipping coverage and raising our position as a global carrier since a lot of our customers are global," Lua Cheng Eng, NOL's chief executive officer, said at a media briefing on the merger.

HK still needs Indonesian workers despite handover

HK still needs Indonesian workers despite handover JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong's reunification with China in July will not affect the demand for Indonesian workers, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said yesterday. Latief said an estimated 20,000 Indonesians currently work in the British colony on a two-yearly contract basis. "They (Hong Kong) have asked Indonesia to send another 50,000 to 80,000," Latief told journalists after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

Primaswadana Finance gets Rp 60b loan

Primaswadana Finance gets Rp 60b loan JAKARTA (JP): Finance company PT Primaswadana Perkasa Finance, a PSP Group subsidiary, secured a Rp 60 billion (US$24.76 million) syndicated loan yesterday. Primaswadana's president, Robert Sutanto, said his company would use the loan to supply motor vehicle credit, especially at its branches outside Java which make up 70 percent of the company's lending. "We are confident of the growing market outside Java," he said.

Legislators promise to deliberate all bills

Legislators promise to deliberate all bills JAKARTA (JP): The clock is ticking away for members of the House of Representatives, whose term ends on Sept. 30, but they have promised to complete all bill deliberations in August so as not to leave unfinished work for their successors. The 500 legislators will break for a one and a half month recess Thursday. Most of them will spend the time in nationwide election campaigns, which run from April 27 to May 23.

Indonesia and Australia linked by fiber optic cable

Indonesia and Australia linked by fiber optic cable JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia have been linked by a 2,800-kilometer submarine fiber optic cable that will improve telecommunications and broadcasting services between the two countries. The cable network, called Jasuraus, can carry at least 60,000 telephone conversations or 125 broadcast quality television or Cable TV channels simultaneously.

Sahid Makassar opens

Sahid Makassar opens UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): The four-star, 250-room Hotel Sahid Makassar was opened here Saturday by South Sulawesi Governor Z.B. Palaguna. The Sahid group owns 60 percent of the hotel, and the Kalla group 40 percent. The 12-story hotel, on a 15,000 square-meter site in central Ujungpandang, cost Rp 60 billion (US$25 million) to build.

Tough bunkers no match for the meek at Finna Golf Club

Tough bunkers no match for the meek at Finna Golf Club By Nicklaus D'Cruz It might be possible for you to lose hope in yourself ... to have your confidence shattered just halfway through your round at Finna Golf & Country Club in Surabaya, Indonesia. Local advice is to keep in mind the mountain peak of Mt. Arjuno and use it as your main reference point, with the ancient temple of Candi Jawi as indication of the lower regions of the golf course; and only then set off to the first tee.

Orangutans reintroduced to nature at Tanjung Puting

Orangutans reintroduced to nature at Tanjung Puting Jakarta Post contributor Rebecca Mowbray visited Tanjung Puting National Park on a recent journey through Kalimantan. The following are her articles and photos of the orangutans in the area. TANJUNG PUTING, Central Kalimantan (JP): The engine of Satria II chugged as the slow-moving klotok fishing boat parted the waters of Sekoyner River and pardoned some over-zealous water plants blocking the way to Camp Leakey.

18 gymnasts chosen for SEA Games squad

18 gymnasts chosen for SEA Games squad JAKARTA (JP): Eighteen gymnasts have been named for the 19th SEA Games squad, the Indonesian Gymnastics Association announced yesterday. Afrina Siahaan, Novi Kartianasari, Sherly Novitasarie, Nurfiana Achmadi, Ellyningsih, Helda Sulistina and Dewi Prahara are in the women's artistic gymnastics squad.

Ethnological studies on E. Timor

Ethnological studies on E. Timor DILI, East Timor: Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo will initiate studies on the cultural development of the East Timorese, Antara reported yesterday. The local people need to know about their culture and identity as an ethnic group, Belo said here Saturday. A small group of experts will meet next week to draw up a plan for the studies.

ID stickers to be issued for campaigners' cars

ID stickers to be issued for campaigners' cars JAKARTA (JP): Police will issue official car stickers, in the political parties' colors, to campaigners for the general election campaign period. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the compulsory stickers were green, for the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP), yellow, for the ruling Golkar, and red, for the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Polling day is May 29.

Improved information needed to fight AIDS

Improved information needed to fight AIDS JAKARTA (JP): A doctor has called for improved information about AIDS to the public in the face of indifference, discrimination, prejudice and insult experienced by people infected with the virus. Hudoyo Hupudio of the Mitra Indonesia Foundation said at a seminar Saturday that a variety of medications and holistic care have been developed to ease the sufferers' pain, a move that dispels the 1980's notion of AIDS as a deadly, incurable disease.

BHP expects deal on Timor gas

BHP expects deal on Timor gas MELBOURNE (Reuter): The Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd said yesterday it expects to reach a joint agreement on the design of the Bayu- Undan gas-condensate project in the Timor Sea between northwestern Australia and Indonesia this year. "I think we can do it this year," Mike Baugh, general manager of petroleum in Australasia for BHP, told a media briefing.

Liberalizing telecoms market

Liberalizing telecoms market By Bondan Winarno JAKARTA (JP): The race is on! By 2004, the government will have to end the duopoly in the provision of the international telecommunications services now enjoyed by Indosat and Satelindo. By 2007, the domestic long distance telephone must be opened. And by 2011, the telecom market should be fully liberalized. After that happens, there will be no going back.

'Wuquf' Day to fall on Thursday

'Wuquf' Day to fall on Thursday JAKARTA (JP): The Islamic ritual of wuquf (standing) on the Plain of Arafat, Saudi Arabia for haj pilgrims will take place Wednesday, coinciding with the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dzulhijjah. Idul Adha or Sacrifice Day for Moslems will therefore fall on Thursday, April 17, according to the Indonesian consulate general in Jeddah. Haj pilgrims worship this occasion by slaughtering cattle and giving the meat to the poor.

Sunday's blackout

Sunday's blackout It is still hard to believe that the mere malfunctioning of three electronic cards worth about US$33,000 at the Gandul transmission and load-control station could have brought down almost the entire power grid in Java and Bali for 10 hours. But that was the technical trouble which the president of state-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Djiteng Marsudi, cited on Sunday night as the main cause of the blackout.

Power blackout 'planned': Sudjana

Power blackout 'planned': Sudjana JAKARTA (JP): The minister of mines and energy, I.B. Sudjana, who originally said Sunday's 10-hour blackout was because of technical trouble, said yesterday the State Electricity Company (PLN) deliberately cut power so it could do repair work. "PLN chose to do the repair work on Sunday to avoid major disruption to economic activities," Sudjana said of the blackout which hit most of Java and Bali.