Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 May 1997

55 articles found

Jobs are scarce

Jobs are scarceFrom Pikiran RakyatIt is beyond my comprehension that educated people and skilled laborers can be whisked aside by the power of money and nepotism. I, for one, finished my studies and completed several vocational training courses in the hope of gaining employment.

Vietnam balks on advertising curbs

Vietnam balks on advertising curbs HANOI (AP): Intense pressure from foreign investors has forced Vietnam to retreat from a plan to cap spending on advertising by foreign companies, state-controlled media reported yesterday.

Funds for small firms

Funds for small firms JAKARTA (JP): New South Sulawesi venture capital firm PT Sarana Sulsel Ventura has provided Rp 3.9 billion (US$1.59 million) to 50 small business in the province.The company's director, Mubyl Handaling, was quoted Sunday by Antara in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, as saying...

Bird lovers, beware!

Bird lovers, beware!From NeracaBird lovers should be wary of being deceived when intending to buy a bird at the bird market on Jl. Pramuka, Jakarta. My advice is that you buy birds at official kiosks, where you can be assured that the sellers won't deceive you.

Hired help in PDI office takeover sue Soerjadi

Hired help in PDI office takeover sue Soerjadi JAKARTA (JP): The leaders of the government-backed faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) are facing a Rp 1.2 billion (US$426,000) lawsuit filed by 51 people they had allegedly hired last year to brutally take over the party's headquarters...

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:30 p.m. News: Lintas Nusantara 2:40 Travel: My Country 2:45 Children's Film: Mooncat 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:10 Teenagers' Program: Remaja Indonesia 3:35 Development Program: Hamkamnas 4:00 Regional News 4:30 TV Drama: Dua Pilihan 5:00 English Lessons 5:25 Variety Show: Science...

Rival Koreas agree on food aid for hungry North

Rival Koreas agree on food aid for hungry North BEIJING (Reuter): Red Cross officials from cold war rivals Seoul and Pyongyang signed an agreement yesterday to allow prosperous South Korea to supply 50,000 tons of food aid to its hungry Northern neighbor by the end of July.

Telkomsel may launch IPO later this tear

Telkomsel may launch IPO later this tear JAKARTA (JP): Private cellular operator PT Telkomsel is ready to float part of its shares on international and domestic markets, according to company senior executive Koesmarihati Sugondo.

Party leader denies his death

Party leader denies his death TEMANGGUNG, Central Java: As tension runs high ahead of this week's election, the seriously ill local chief of the United Development Party (PPP), PM Imron, rose from his hospital bed to deny rumors that he had died.

30,000 Indonesians to vote in Singapore

30,000 Indonesians to vote in Singapore BATAM, Riau: The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore has 14 polling booths for the 30,000 expatriates who will vote there Thursday."The number includes 2,000 Indonesians who are holders of the so-called AB cards," the head of the embassy's ballot collection...

Ship bursts into flames

Ship bursts into flames JAKARTA (JP): A cargo ship burst into flames while being repaired at a dockyard in Tanjung Priok seaport, North Jakarta yesterday. No fatalities were reported.Sumadyo, a firefighter from the North Jakarta Fire Department, said the fire, which started at 1:35 p.m.

Only 700,000 buildings in city have permits

Only 700,000 buildings in city have permits JAKARTA (JP): Out of the city's known 1.2 million buildings, only 700,000 have permits, a city official said yesterday.The head of the City Development Supervision Agency, Hartanto, said his office issues around 12,500 building permits every year.

Iranian youths celebrate Khatami's win

Iranian youths celebrate Khatami's winBy Kathy Evans TEHRAN: Young Iranians gave out flowers and sweets in Tehran's Revolution Square Sunday in celebration of the overwhelming mandate for change given to Mohammed Khatami in his presidential election victory.

Pulp industry relies on natural forests

Pulp industry relies on natural forests JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pulp industry still uses raw material from natural forests and land-clearing activities, but none from forest estates, Director General of Forest Utilization Titus Sarijanto said.

Sticky subject

Sticky subjectFrom Surabaya PostWe have become very familiar with stickers recently, distributed freely by producers, hotels, tourist resorts and entertainment centers. The election contenders are the latest to hop on the bandwagon.Stickers have been plastered on cars and buildings.

Criminals label for riot victims too premature: Expert

Criminals label for riot victims too premature: Expert SEMARANG (JP): The authorities were too hasty in branding as criminals the people who burned to death in a shopping center in Friday's riot in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Satjipto Rahardjo said here yesterday.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Music * Dai-ichi Hotel, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta: - Morgan's 1072 Classic Disco: Lemon Tea Band/Time Motion Band, Tuesday, 9 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.; Smart Band, Wednesday, 9 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.; R and Co Band, Saturday, 9.30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Merpati serves Dili-Suai

Merpati serves Dili-Suai JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara, which started weekly flights from Dili to Suai in East Timor in April, picks up an average of 10 passengers a flight from Dili, an official said yesterday.

Telekom Malaysia cuts rate

Telekom Malaysia cuts rate KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Telekom Malaysia Bhd said in a statement yesterday it had reduced the cost of international calls to 35 countries to boost Malaysia's competitiveness as a business centre.

IDB, Jasa Asuransi tie up

IDB, Jasa Asuransi tie up MANAMA (Reuter): The Islamic Corp for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a wholly-owned affiliate of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), has signed a cooperation agreement with P.T. Jasa Asuransi of Indonesia.

Main witness in toll road murder arrested

Main witness in toll road murder arrested BOGOR (JP): A main witness in the Jagorawi toll road robbery and murder case was arrested by police for involvement in car thefts.Businessman Idfiel Jaya Anwar, 36, was arrested Wednesday after testifying at Bogor District Court in a case in which his...

Fishermen warned of tropical storms

Fishermen warned of tropical storms CILACAP, Central Java: The local office of Meteorology and Geophysics warned fishermen yesterday of big waves until November.Big waves have officially killed 25 people in the past five months in this southern coastal regency, where 58 suffered a similar fate last...

$320m raised for poverty alleviation

$320m raised for poverty alleviation JAKARTA (JP): A poverty alleviation foundation, chaired by President Soeharto, has collected more than Rp 768.6 billion (US$320.25 million), including Rp 622 billion in taxpayers' donations, in its first year of operation.

Pijar members hand voter cards over to human rights body

Pijar members hand voter cards over to human rights body JAKARTA (JP): Forty members of the Pijar non-governmental organization demonstrated their intention not to vote in the general election when they handed over their yellow voter cards yesterday to the National Commission on Human Rights.

Election watchdog says campaigning undemocratic

Election watchdog says campaigning undemocratic JAKARTA (JP): The Independent Election Monitoring Committee said yesterday that the 27-day election campaign was not held in accordance with democratic principles.

Sticker sales for SEA Games far below target

Sticker sales for SEA Games far below target JAKARTA (JP): The amount of money raised so far from SEA Games sticker sales is far short of the Rp 10 billion (US$4.2 million) targeted by the city, an official said yesterday.

Borobudur festival around the corner

Borobudur festival around the corner SEMARANG: Central Java's tourism, post and telecommunications office will hold the 7th Borobudur Festival from June 28 to July 1."We will stage folk dances and exhibit local handicrafts and do other things," the office's head, Budiharto, was quoted by Antara as...

Novus' Indonesia oilfields

Novus' Indonesia oilfields SYDNEY (Reuter): Australian oil and gas company Novus Petroleum said yesterday that two new oil fields have been brought on production at the Kakap Block offshore Indonesia.The KG 5A field commenced production on May 23 at more than 8,500 barrels per day (bpd) while KRN...

City authorities still investigating food poisoning

City authorities still investigating food poisoning JAKARTA (JP): The City Health Office and the police are still investigating food samples that caused the hospitalization of hundreds of factory workers last week in Cakung, North Jakarta.

Call to consumers

Call to consumers People in Indonesia, powerless consumers, are routinely victimized by fraudulent merchants. Consumers here will get a fair deal only if, and when, they stand up and demand basic rights -- hold the merchants accountable for fraudulent actions.

SE Asian property market downturn is cyclical: Expert

SE Asian property market downturn is cyclical: Expert SINGAPORE (AFP): A downturn on property markets in parts of Southeast Asia is a cyclical phenomenon that will pass when balance is restored between demand and supply, a regional real- estate expert said yesterday.

City Police get new homes

City Police get new homes JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo inaugurated new apartments for City Police officers yesterday in Jatipetamburan, West Jakarta.Dibyo said the apartments can accommodate 203 families and 288 single officers.

Soeharto's family to gather to vote

Soeharto's family to gather to vote JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will get together with his family Thursday before voting at a polling station near his residence on Jl. Cendana, along with about 300 other residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Analysts warn that Indonesia not yet efficient enough

Analysts warn that Indonesia not yet efficient enough JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians should not be lulled into complacency following the country's leap from 30th to 15th place in a report on the world's most competitive economies, analysts say.

Malaysia wants ships to bypass S'pore

Malaysia wants ships to bypass S'pore KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian shipping agents are rallying behind a call by local port authorities to bypass Singapore in favor of Malaysia's Port Klang, the head of an industry association said yesterday."We should boycott Singapore.

Unsafe parking at central park

Unsafe parking at central parkFrom KompasI am a monthly customer of the Mulia Group managed Central Park for which I have been issued a sticker. On Tuesday, May 6, I parked my car on the second floor (opposite the back of the BRI I building) at 7.15 a.m.After work at 5 p.m.

Traders skeptical about Thai intervention

Traders skeptical about Thai intervention SINGAPORE (Reuter): The Southeast Asian rubber trade greeted with skepticism yesterday to reports the Thai government was again intervening in the market to prop up prices of RSS3 grade rubber, saying the move was counterproductive.

Outward bound

Outward boundFrom NeracaIn recent weeks, travel agencies have aggressively advertised trips to Europe, the United States, Australia, even Africa. When the school holidays or end-of-year vacation approach, newspapers are filled with the travel ads to tempt students or their parents to venture abroad.

Stevedoring fees 'not illegal': Official

Stevedoring fees 'not illegal': Official JAKARTA (JP): The head of North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port Administration, Aprildo Abidin, said yesterday that the Rp 225 (nine U.S. cents) per ton charged in stevedoring fees at the port's cargo terminal was not an illegal levy.

The exodus aims for a vacation

The exodus aims for a vacation JAKARTA (JP): The huge number of people leaving Jakarta to their hometowns to vote on May 29 still does not indicate they have a high level of political awareness, political and sociological experts said yesterday.

Peeping for fun

Peeping for funFrom KompasI feel uneasy every time I have to use the pedestrian bridge to cross the road on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jakarta. During certain office hours, particularly at 8 a.m. and at 5 p.m. you can find men under the bridge who apparently enjoy looking up women's skirts.

Athletes' village nearly ready

Athletes' village nearly ready JAKARTA (JP): The 42-story athlete's village for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in October is close to completion and will be opened in September.The Mulia Group's owner, Joko S.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 26, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,250 150 111,000 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,150 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,050 0 67,000...

Sri Bintang fired from UI

Sri Bintang fired from UI JAKARTA (JP): Rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, currently serving time for defaming President Soeharto, has lost his job at the prestigious state-run University of Indonesia.

More experts hail death sentence for Siswanto

More experts hail death sentence for Siswanto JAKARTA (JP): Two more legal experts have voiced approval of the death sentence that was handed down to Siswanto, alias Robot Gedek, for the premeditated murder and sexual abuse of 12 boys.

Two junior weightlifters compete in W. C'ships

Two junior weightlifters compete in W. C'ships JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association will send two lifters to the World Weightlifting Junior Championship in Capetown, South Africa.

Small businesses 'need good marketing': Mar'ie

Small businesses 'need good marketing': Mar'ie JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad said the main problem facing the development of Indonesia's small businesses was not money but marketing and human resources quality.

Garuda continues to operate Airbus fleet despite HK ban

Garuda continues to operate Airbus fleet despite HK ban JAKARTA (JP): PT Garuda Indonesia said yesterday it had no problems with its six Airbus A330-300s despite Hong Kong aviation authorities banning the national flag carrier from using the aircraft.

Glasgow early voting is declared void

Glasgow early voting is declared void JAKARTA (JP): The government has declared "void" the votes of 140 Indonesians in Glasgow, Scotland in Great Britain on Saturday, or five days ahead of schedule.Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gaffar Fadyl, and the deputy secretary-general of the...

Aberson faces prison for defaming Soeharto

Aberson faces prison for defaming Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): An 18-month jail sentence has been requested for the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) legislator, Aberson Marle Sihaloho, accused of slandering President Soeharto, the Armed Forces and the House of Representatives.Prosecutor Y.W.

BI urged to set rules for unhealthy banks

BI urged to set rules for unhealthy banks JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia, the central bank, should establish rules to regulate unhealthy banks so that they do not burden the country's economy, Bank Putera Multikarsa president Masyhud Ali said yesterday.

Hyundai wins RI deal

Hyundai wins RI deal SEOUL (AP): Two subsidiaries of the giant Hyundai group, a major South Korean conglomerate, said yesterday they have won two construction contracts worth US$238 million in Israel and Indonesia.

Banjarmasin counts cost of the riot

Banjarmasin counts cost of the riotBy Johannes Simbolon and Christiani Tumelap BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): The city was still counting the cost of last Friday's riot when police said yesterday that the death toll was "only" 123 compared to between 133 and 142 published in newspapers.

Banjarmasin tragedy

Banjarmasin tragedy It took the nation a little while to realize that Friday's unrest in Banjarmasin is turning out to be one of the worst in the history of modern Indonesia. The tension that followed in the South Kalimantan provincial capital after the rioting, combined with poor communication...

Mistreated PPP faithful seek rights commission protection

Mistreated PPP faithful seek rights commission protection JAKARTA (JP): A group of United Development Party (PPP) supporters from Jepara, Central Java, complained yesterday that local security personnel had persecuted them.They have asked the National Commission on Human Rights for protection.