Golkar assured of landslide victory JAKARTA (JP): With Golkar's election landslide victory already well assured, attention shifted yesterday to the number of valid votes as the National Election Committee continued with its count. By 5 p.m. yesterday, 109,891,230 votes had been counted, or about 88 percent of registered voters. Golkar took the lion's share of votes with 74.27 percent, PPP accounted for 22.69 percent and PDI 3.04 percent.

Val Kilmer finds his perfect alter ego in 'The Saint' JAKARTA (JP): The grungy, long-haired man stares at the blonde girl with love-sick eyes. He obviously thinks he's Fabio, while the girl looks like Cheryl Ladd's ultra-perky Charlie's Angel. They radiate electrical currents as each tries to decipher the other. Behind his cushy, inviting mouth lurks a nameless, homeless, international espionage expert who is a master of disguise, accents, burglary and psychology. Especially female psychology.

British animal lovers rush to Irian Jaya By Spencer Vignes LONDON (JP): Indonesia can expect to benefit from an unusually high number of British tourists flocking to its shores over the coming months. But for once they won't all be coming in search of a suntan on Bali's beaches or a visit to one of the country's legendary temples. Their holy grail doesn't even have an Indonesian origin.

Guess What? There was a full house at the official residence of National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo on Jl. Pattimura in South Jakarta last Monday evening. Hundreds of uniformed police officials, colleagues and stylish-look businesspeople along with their spouses were there to give their best wishes. Half of Jl. Pattimura and other nearby streets were packed with shiny cars, but there was no traffic jam, thanks to the host's personnel.

Hariyanto, Rexy and Ricky both lose narrowly in semis JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Hariyanto Arbi, seeded 12th, failed to secure Indonesia a representative in the men's singles World Championships final after losing to 15th seeded Peter Rasmussen of Denmark 15-9, 9-15, 2-15 yesterday. In the men's doubles, third-seeded Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia, the Olympic gold medalists, lost in a repeat of the Olympic final 9-15, 15-2, 12-15 to Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia.

Fire guts 127 shanty houses JAKARTA (JP): Firefighters argued with residents yesterday as they tried to put out a fire that destroyed 127 shanty houses in Palmerah, West Jakarta. More than 500 people were left homeless after the fire on Jl. Pelita in Palmerah's Jati Pulo subdistrict. The fire started at about 8:30 a.m and was put out at 10:30 a.m. No fatalities were reported. West Jakarta Fire Brigade's head, Syamsir Makmur, said he was "very disappointed with the residents".

Letting off steam at a 'latah' session By Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The women had worked hard all day to make the party a success and now it was time for fun. Seated around the betelnut box, they started to let go of themselves. One woman shoved the betelnut box to her neighbor, who exclaimed a string of words in startled response. Everybody laughed. Another woman followed suit with her own verbal stream.

'Mother of a thousand cats' tends forgotten felines By Izul Abidi PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The pretty girl stopped her motorbike short of a garbage dump on Jalan Sudirman in Purwokerto. An older woman dressed in gray immediately hopped off the back seat. "Come here, my friends," she called out. Five alley cats stopped scratching in the garbage and scampered toward her. They meowed impatiently as she opened a plastic bundle containing rice with fish and chicken heads.

The Heirloom By Dewi Anggraeni "Rod," Wati said unexpectedly - that is, Rod hadn't expected it. "I know it's a bit sudden. Would you mind staying the night?" Rodney was dumbfounded. How could he not be? He had been attracted to Wati for months, yet had not dared make any move, in case he frightened her away. While this was his second year in Melbourne, Rodney hadn't quite picked up the local boys' ease when it came to chatting up girls. In fact, he found city girls rather overwhelming.

Tracing batik's threads across the North Coast of Java Fabric of Enchantment: Batik from the North Coast of Java, a catalog published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Oct. 31, 1996 - Jan. 26, 1997. Copublished by Los Angeles Museum of Art, Los Angeles, and Weatherhill Inc., New York, 1996. 240 pp. Rp 165,000.

Southeast Asian art buyers begin look West By Sonali Desai SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asian art buyers are beginning to set their sights beyond regional shores and eye the Western art market as rising prosperity dissolves geographic and cultural boundaries. Although gallery owners and auction houses still describe the level of buying of Western paintings as a trickle rather than a flood, they are upbeat about the prospects for this market given its growth in recent years.

Subronto named SEA Games cycling training director JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Association has named businessman Subronto Laras as training director for the 19th SEA Games in October. Subronto, president director of PT Indomobil, was surprised by the offer but accepted it. "I hope good cooperation among athletes, coaches and officials will help me achieve Indonesia's target at the Games, that is to win as many golds as possible," he said.

Tips for parents in sending kids to preschool JAKARTA (JP): It is still a month until school admission begins in July, but anxious parents are in the midst of weighing their children's education options. For the concerned parent, the selection process begins in preschools and lasts until their offspring are safely ensconced in a university many years down the line.

Preschool education sprouts in big cities More parents than ever are sending their children to preschool. Preschool education centers, especially playgroups, are growing rapidly in big cities like Jakarta. Most of them are crowded with toddlers. The Jakarta Post reporters Devi M. Asmarani, Imanuddin, Kosasih Deradjat, Listiana Operananta, Primastuti Handayani, Riyadi and Sri Wahyuni investigate developments in preschool education, especially playgroups. Related stories are on Page 3 and Page 9.

RI and Malaysia sign agreement on Island dispute By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia signed an agreement yesterday to jointly submit the dispute over the Sipadan and Ligitan islands to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), thereby avoiding the impression of one litigating the other. The agreement formally affirms a commitment by the two countries' leaders to settle the dispute peacefully through third-party arbitration.

Bina Anaprasa provides preschool for the needy By Devi M. Asmarani and Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): The small, plain building in Kwitang subdistrict, Central Jakarta, goes unnoticed save for the clamor resonating from inside. Several women, relaxed in conversation, congregate on wooden benches outside, and the lively sounds grow louder as one nears the building. Inside, about 40 energetic kids sit facing their teacher on rows of mini chairs and desks.

ASEAN to welcome Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in July KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed at a special meeting here yesterday to admit Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar as new members in July. The half-day meeting ended much public controversy as to whether ASEAN would grant the three countries full membership this year. The formal announcement was made by Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi, the chairman of yesterday's meeting.

Marriage fees vary From Republika "Unregistered marriages" are still a frequent practice in many regions, which is why I repeatedly suggest to acquaintances and close neighbors to be married at the district office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (KUA). Only then is a marriage pronounced legal, while the cost does not differ much from a so- called "unregistered marriage" (KUA's marriage fee is Rp 75,000 compared to Rp 40,000 for an unregistered marriage).

Day care centers in workplace called for JAKARTA (JP): Child psychologist Fauziah Aswin Hadis believes that daily visits to playgroups can be too much of a good thing for young children. She says that up to three visits a week to a group are acceptable, but more than that will leave children bored. Mothers with the luxury of enough time at home should try to spend it with their children, she adds. But she does advocate the setting up of day care centers in workplaces.

Middlemen at bus terminals From Berita Buana Nearly all minivan drivers plying their routes have hiked up their fares at will. This is because middlemen at terminals like to press drivers for money. Even if there are no passengers in the bus the middlemen keep asking drivers for money. Passengers on route 03 bound to Baranangsiang Terminal, Bogor, for example, are often involved in a squabble with minivan drivers because of a fare increase of Rp 100. The same thing is happening in Jakarta.

Government to repeat voting at 111 polling stations in Madura JAKARTA (JP): In an unprecedented move, the government acquiesced yesterday to the United Development Party's (PPP) demand for a repeat of voting at 111 polling stations on Madura island, East Java. General Elections Institute Secretary-General Suryatna Subrata said Thursday's voting in the area was disrupted due to a "security disturbance".

Al-Falah blends int'l education, Islam By Listiana Operananta JAKARTA (JP): There is something special about this open classroom. It does not look like any ordinary classroom in the country. The room is filled with neatly arranged colorful toys and blocks. There is a TV set and some musical instruments in one corner and a doll house in another. There are also miniature household equipment and tools we use in everyday life.

Singer Nugie comes of age on national music scene By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): A convoy proceeded down a Kuta street in Bali during the recent campaign. Waiting for the youngsters at a crossroads was a police line determined to keep them from reaching the main street. But the youths swerved their vehicles unexpectedly into a small alley and sang in chorus Tertipu.... (Deceived). Flashback to Milan last year.

IPTN sponsors student on path to excellence By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Humanly speaking, a young woman should be brimming with pride to have completed a four-year undergraduate course with top marks, as well as secured a job in PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), one of Indonesia's most respected industries.

All the right moves of a simple shiatsu massage Text by Rebecca Mowbray, photos by P.J. Leo JAKARTA (JP): Endang, a practitioner of shiatsu massage, may be a first cousin of circus acrobats. While my nearly naked body was pressed between two towels on the massage table, the amazing Endang hung from two metal bars on the ceiling. She placed her feet on my back with the precision of a tightrope walker.