Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 June 1997

56 articles found

Interactive TV for hotel

Interactive TV for hotel JAKARTA (JP): TRB Group, a private computer systems firm, introduced here yesterday an interactive TV system designed to improve hotels' services. The Group's managing director, Yanti Riawati, said the system, dubbed GuestServe, was the latest in multimedia systems in the United States. She said the system combined TVs and PCs, and would turn hotel rooms' TV sets into central communications facilities between hotel managements and guests.

IPTN undeterred by mergers of giant firms

IPTN undeterred by mergers of giant firms By Endy M. Bayuni PARIS (JP): PT IPTN President B.J. Habibie said yesterday he was confident about the future of Indonesia's aircraft industry in spite of planned mergers of the world's giant plane makers. "I see no problem," Habibie told a packed media conference in the ongoing Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport.

Hartarto keeps door open to petrochemical investments

Hartarto keeps door open to petrochemical investments JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution, Hartarto, said here yesterday that Indonesia still had openings for investment in the petrochemical sector, but he warned of increasingly tougher competition.

RP painter shows classic works

RP painter shows classic works JAKARTA (JP): Filipino painter Linda Marie Tabios will display some of her classic oriental works in a one-day exhibition at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Monday. A presentation by Director General of Culture Edi Sedyawati will be held at 6:30 p.m., said cultural officer Gloria L. Tablico from the Philippines Embassy yesterday. Tablico said the exhibition at the Krakatau room, sponsored by the embassy, will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Texmaco buys British clothes manufacturer

Texmaco buys British clothes manufacturer LONDON (JP): Indonesia's textile manufacturer Texmaco Group has ended months of speculation surrounding the future of the British clothing manufacturing company S R Gent by taking it over for US$48 million. Texmaco's spokesman in London, Adrian Ould, said Monday the group's chairman Marimutu Sinivasan had been searching for a way to enter Britain's mainland clothing industry for the past 12 months.

Novus stops Singa drilling

Novus stops Singa drilling MELBOURNE (Reuter): Australia's Novus Petroleum Ltd said yesterday the joint venture partners in the Singa-1 exploration well on the Indonesian island of Sumatra had decided to stop drilling short of the well's target depth. Last month Novus said the well discovered gas at the top of the main reservoir target at 3,635 metres.

National pride

National pride From Merdeka The Royal Nusantara Festival II, which will be held from July 1 to July 7, 1997 in Cirebon, West Java, is an effort to preserve one of the nation's cultural assets. We therefore hope that the festival will be conducted in the most splendid manner. The festival will also serve as a means to maintain our ancestors' cultural values. Our culture is famous far and wide and we have every reason to be proud of it.

GSM-XL bills can be paid at BCA ATMs

GSM-XL bills can be paid at BCA ATMs JAKARTA (JP): PT Excelcomindo Pratama, which operates the GSM- XL cellular system, signed an agreement with Bank Central Asia (BCA) yesterday that allows its customers to pay their bills at the banks' Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). Excelcomindo's president Y.W. Junardy said, after signing the agreement with BCA's director Andibuana Wangsadjaja, that the service became effective here yesterday following a series of trial operations.

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 Hawaiian 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.

KL Games organizer rebuts criticism by federal ministers

KL Games organizer rebuts criticism by federal ministers KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The organizing committee of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in remarks published yesterday rebutted criticism by federal ministers after the shock resignation of its chairman. In a statement, SUKOM Ninety Eight Bhd. said it had been actively promoting the games at various international conferences but was restricted by the budget for domestic publicity. "We are not a profit-making company.

DASA-RI airport deal

DASA-RI airport deal PARIS (DPA): Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) announced yesterday in Paris that it has won an order to upgrade and modernize 21 airports in Indonesia. DASA, divulging the development at the 42nd International Aviation Show at Le Bourget, put the value of the deal at US$15.5 million. The company's Airport Systems division in Wedel, outside Hamburg, will be responsible for carrying out the work to be carried out by mid-1999.

Parties given eight more days to trade votes

Parties given eight more days to trade votes JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Committee has given the three parties eight more days to decide whether they will trade votes to increase the number of seats in the House of Representatives won by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). "We'll let them discuss vote trading for PDI until June 25," the committee's secretary-general Suryatna Subrata said yesterday. "The initiative for vote-trading plans should come from the contestants.

Dollar drops below 113 yen in Tokyo

Dollar drops below 113 yen in Tokyo TOKYO (AFP): The dollar temporarily plunged below 113 yen here yesterday amid caution on the eve of the release of Japanese trade data, dealers said. "Even if the surplus is within the expected range, it will likely trigger renewed buying of the yen," a credit bank dealer said. The U.S.

Parties endorse election results in East Java

Parties endorse election results in East Java SURABAYA (JP): The three parties' East Java chapters endorsed election results yesterday to seal the allocation of seats in the provincial legislative council. Governor Basofi Soedirman witnessed the United Development Party's (PPP) provincial chief Sumly Syadeli, his Golkar counterpart Hudan Dardiri and the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) provincial deputy chief Ardiwar sign a document approving the results.

Officials defend action against vocational scholl

Officials defend action against vocational scholl JAKARTA (JP): A senior official denied yesterday that his office had not informed 21 vocational schools of poor performance before asking them to stop receiving new students this year. Alwi Nurdin, the head of administration affairs at the Ministry of Education and Culture city office, assured that proper procedures had been taken in order to prevent the public from being victims of vocational schools that lacked ministry requirements.

Publishers seek ways to cut down book piracy

Publishers seek ways to cut down book piracy JAKARTA (JP): Cutting prices is the best way to combat literary piracy which is pushing local publishers to the brink of bankruptcy, a publisher said yesterday. Alfons Taryadi said people would buy the cheapest books regardless of paper quality or copyright. "What people are concerned about are a book's content and reasonable prices," Alfons said.

Indonesians triumphant in world boat race

Indonesians triumphant in world boat race JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's traditional boat racing team has won "The Best Nation" title at the Second World Dragon Boat Championships. Indonesia won six gold medals and one silver medal from eight events at the championships, held on Hong Kong's Shing Mun River from June 12 to June 15. Indonesia's Dji Sam Soe men's team won gold in the 1,000 meter and 250 meter events.

Golkar's surplus votes

Golkar's surplus votes From Media Indonesia Golkar should reconsider its plan to "give" its surplus of votes in the 1997 general election to the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). It is not Golkar's right to arbitrarily give its surplus of votes to another side which is not entitled to them. Golkar should return the surplus to the voters as the rightful owners. If voters had wished to vote for the PDI, they could have done so during the general election, and not with Golkar acting as a mediator.

Rupiah seen to remain attractive

Rupiah seen to remain attractive JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia's Governor J. Soedradjad Djiwandono said yesterday the government would continue to depreciate the rupiah against the U.S. dollar to a level which could boost Indonesia's export performance. But the depreciation would also be at a level which accommodated the public's understanding that a strong rupiah was needed, he said.

Bunas Finance wants 66% profit hike

Bunas Finance wants 66% profit hike JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bunas Finance Indonesia wants a 66 percent net profit increase this year, to Rp 55 billion from Rp 33.1 billion in 1996. President of the firm, Francis Lay Sioe Ho, said it had posted a 134 percent increase in net profit to Rp 9.78 billion in the first quarter of 1997, from Rp 4.16 billion in the same period last year.

Biotechnology may 'spell disaster'

Biotechnology may 'spell disaster' JAKARTA (JP): Biotechnology may improve people's welfare but misusing it will spell disaster, President Soeharto warned yesterday. Biotechnology promises to overcome disease, pollution, destruction of biodiversity, food shortages, energy crises and other problems. "But biotechnology may bring catastrophe to the human race if it is misapplied," the President said at the State Palace while opening the Indonesian Biotechnology Conference.

PDI's defeat

PDI's defeat From Jayakarta A headline in Jayakarta (June 7) read: 'Mega tentang kekalahan telak PDI, kalau masih hidup Bung Karno pun prihatin' (Mega on PDI's flat defeat. If Bung Karno were still alive he, too, would be very sad). When reading between the lines, I found that Mbak Megawati was deeply concerned about the way the recent campaign was conducted which was marred by violence and rioting and claimed the lives of many supporters.

Family day in N. Sumatra

Family day in N. Sumatra JAKARTA: This year's National Family Day will be on June 29, with the highlight being a ceremony in Binjai, North Sumatra, presided by President Soeharto. State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono said here Monday that the event would be significant in the national campaign to improve the welfare of about 11.5 million poor families. National Family Day began in 1994 with the launch of the Family Welfare Development Movement.

Police urged to improve image

Police urged to improve image JAKARTA (JP): The police force has to work hard to improve its image which has been tarnished by the conduct of individual personnel, a communication expert said yesterday. The expert, Bachtiar Aly, urged the police to improve its reputation by publicizing success stories. "The public's high expectations of the police will be fulfilled if the police can prove they are competent," Bachtiar said while addressing the 51st anniversary of the Police College.

The Crocodile Coup

The Crocodile Coup By Djanwar Madjolelo JAKARTA (JP): Alfred Sheinwold was a Briton who became one of America's leading bridge writers, he died in Los Angeles on March 8, 1997, aged 85. He was born in London in 1912 but emigrated during his youth, graduating from the City College of New York in 1933. He wrote a dozen books, with his Five Weeks To Winning Bridge selling over a million copies. He edited Bridge World from 1934 to 1963 and ACBL Bulletin 1952 to 1958.

Thailand's foreign currency rating cut

Thailand's foreign currency rating cut TOKYO (AFP): The Japan Bond Research Institute downgraded yesterday Thailand's long-term foreign currency rating, affecting 90 billion yen (US$800 million) worth of samurai bond issues. In lowering its rating from "AA-minus" to "A-plus," the institute said Thailand's economic slowdown was being driven by the same factors which triggered the bursting of Japan's bubble economy in the early 1990's.

Bakrie Finance Corporation to raise stake in Bank Nusa

Bakrie Finance Corporation to raise stake in Bank Nusa JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bakrie Finance Corporation (BFC) plans to increase its stake in PT Bank Nusa Internasional to 82 percent from 47 percent as part of its restructuring program. The director of BFC's subsidiary PT Swadinamika Bakrie Finance, Tito D. Suherto, said yesterday BFC would buy the 35 percent stake, about 625.61 million shares, from PT Daya Sarana Pratama.

Thai LNG delay raises question on Mideast gas

Thai LNG delay raises question on Mideast gas BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand has started to raise questions about the need to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Middle East while companies in Asia are increasingly finding more gas reserves, analysts said yesterday. However, they were split over whether a decision by Thailand to delay the purchase of LNG from Oman was a good move.

CMNP to raise Rp 500b from rights shares

CMNP to raise Rp 500b from rights shares JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed toll road operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada (CMNP) will issue rights shares next month at a ratio of one to one to raise about Rp 500 billion (US$208.33 million). Citra Marga's director Tito Sulistio said yesterday the company would issue one billion shares with a par value of Rp 500 a share. "The new shares will be listed on the stock exchanges on July 7," he said after the company's annual shareholders' meeting.

Eradicating of corruption is 'impossible'

Eradicating of corruption is 'impossible' JAKARTA (JP): Eradication of corruption is impossible, State Minister of Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi said yesterday. He told a discussion on future leaders that corruption was impossible to eradicate because it was common throughout the world. "We can only minimize corruption," he said in the discussion held by the Moslem Students Association.

Spotlight

Spotlight Photo A: Lippo JP/alx LIPPO LEADERS: Top executives of PT Lippo Cikarang gather before a meeting announcing the property company's plan to sell shares to the public. In attendance at last Thursday's meeting at the Shangri-la Hotel in Jakarta were (left to right) commissioners Ferry Sonnevile and Wisnu Lohananta, president Herman Latief and director Sugiono Djuhari.

Many stranded as Bogor, Jakarta drivers strike

Many stranded as Bogor, Jakarta drivers strike JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta and Bogor public transportation passengers became victims of yet more strikes yesterday, as thousands were forced to walk long distances. The strike was mostly caused by additional buses and too many fleets plying similar routes, drivers and a bus owner said. In Bogor, all 13 routes went on strike following yesterday's protest by 300 Sukasari-Merdeka route drivers. Drivers said they were forced to strike by others.

Man killed in Central Jakarta

Man killed in Central Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested three men for allegedly beating and stabbing a man to death and dumping his body in a Central Jakarta river. City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said residents found the body of Amir, 29, floating in the Ciliwung river in Senen on Sunday night. Aritonang said Amir lived in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, but frequented Kenari market on Jl. Inspeksi and was known to police.

People await Serpong-Jakarta toll road

People await Serpong-Jakarta toll road JAKARTA (JP): Both residents and employees in Tangerang regency are looking forward to the completion of a 13.1-kilometer Serpong-Jakarta toll road project that started in 1992. They said the toll road, once completed, would help them reach their offices more quickly during rush hours.

RP may buy JAS 39 Gripens

RP may buy JAS 39 Gripens STOCKHOLM (AFP): The Philippine government is interested in buying the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen jet fighter following talks between the Philippines and the manufacturing consortium, the Swedish financial newspaper FinansTidningen said yesterday. A delegation from the Philippine air force had visited Sweden, the paper said, noting that a possible deal could amount to seven-billion kronor (US$897 million).

Vote rigging still exists in 1997 general election

Vote rigging still exists in 1997 general election By Cornelis LAY YOGYAKARTA (JP): In comparison with earlier general elections conducted under the New Order, the recent election showed some significant improvements. Golkar's siding with the bureaucracy, an act whose negative effects must be borne by voters and the two other contenders, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), was not as blatant as during past elections.

HK lifts ban on Garuda A330 flights

HK lifts ban on Garuda A330 flights HONG KONG (Reuter): Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department said yesterday it had lifted a ban imposed on May 26 on flights operated by Garuda Indonesia using Airbus A330 aircraft. "The Director of Civil Aviation stated that he had received an assurance that the mandatory modifications called for by the U.K.

Surya Toto to expand its markets

Surya Toto to expand its markets JAKARTA (JP): PT Surya Toto Indonesia, a Japanese-Indonesian joint venture manufacturing sanitary products and fittings, is expanding its export markets to include Australia, Myanmar, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, its president said. Mardjoeki Atmadiredja said after the company's extraordinary shareholders meeting here yesterday that the export expansion was to increase its 1997 profit.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 17, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,575 0 47,000 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,000 0 55,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,125 0 495,000 Alumindo Perkasa 875 0 23,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,275 25 4,019,500 Anwar Sierad 950 -25 566,500 Apac Centertex Corp.

'Kartu Halo' miscalculates

'Kartu Halo' miscalculates Since February this year I have had two mobile phones with Kartu Halo. So far I have not received an invoice for either of the telephones. Since I lost the mobile phones in Singapore, I applied for a new SIM Card and paid the first monthly bill (March 1997) at Kartu Halo's office at Jl. Panataran No. 9 with the receipt No. 9703654, No. MSISDN 0811-10-9909 amounting to Rp 122,862. This was the first invoice I received.

Muller not Mueller

Muller not Mueller I read your article Peter Mueller the architect of dream resorts published in The Jakarta Post (Sunday, June 8). I naturally appreciate the compliments contained in that article but it is very disconcerting to have my name misspelt throughout. Mueller is not the same as Muller, neither in pronunciation nor origin. Also, the photograph labeled Amandari is in fact of the Oberoi Lombok. PETER MULLER Loches, France Note: We apologize for the error. -- Editor

Air France, Garuda deal

Air France, Garuda deal JAKARTA (JP): Air France and national carrier Garuda Indonesia airlines have signed a cargo cooperation agreement. The agreement was signed yesterday at Paris' Le Bourget Airport in France. Air France's regional general manager Christian Herpin said yesterday the weekly cargo service would use a Boeing 747-200 F, which would arrive in Jakarta and leave for Paris every Wednesday morning.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. News: Lintas Nusantara 2:40 Travel: My Country 2:45 Family's Film: Road to Avonlea 3:10 Children's Program: Anak-Anak Indonesia 3:35 Talk Show: Kotak Pos 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:10 TV Series: Topacio 5:55 Music 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 Entrepreneurship Program: Mitra Kita 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Quiz: Dewasa 8:30 Jazz Music...

State universities' tuition still cheapest: Minister

State universities' tuition still cheapest: Minister JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro denied yesterday that state universities' tuition fees were as expensive as private universities'. "There is no reason for people to make a fuss about the tuition fees at state universities," the minister told a press conference on this year's college entrance exams at the Salemba campus of University of Indonesia.

Tribesmen burn migrants' houses

Tribesmen burn migrants' houses JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Tribesmen from the Kwimi village, about 43 km south of here, burned down six new houses Friday which had been built for migrants under a government resettlement scheme, Antara reported yesterday. The houses were unoccupied. Kwimi's tribal leader, Johnes Nongguar, said he ordered the arson because his villages had not been adequately compensated for the tribe's sago forest that had been felled for the housing project.

More comfortable walks for pedestrians on Jl. Thamrin

More comfortable walks for pedestrians on Jl. Thamrin JAKARTA (JP): Twenty buildings along Jl. M.H. Thamrin will be asked to tear down their fences and walls to create a friendlier atmosphere starting the end of this month. This would be part of efforts to fulfill a plan called the "Thamrin Walk," where sidewalks would be seven to eight meters wide. Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M.

RI exporters' must meet int'l standards'

RI exporters' must meet int'l standards' NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The government's efforts to open up the Australian market to Indonesian exports should be coupled with exporters pushing the market with quality products, experts believe.

Court told poor security at museum

Court told poor security at museum JAKARTA (JP): A court hearing on the theft of paintings at the National Museum yesterday revealed poor security at the museum. Safety regulations were frequently violated, witnesses said. A member of building management at the museum who testified at Central Jakarta District Court said no one was allowed entry to museum storerooms without the curator's permission and an escort.

Asian crudes firmed on tight supplies

Asian crudes firmed on tight supplies SINGAPORE (Reuter): Tighter spot supplies coupled with peak seasonal demand supported heavy Asian crude prices yesterday, traders said. July spot trading for Minas crude has not started, but sellers were offering at ICP +25 cents per barrel, with bids likely to come from ICP +10/15. July Duri crude was also discussed at firmer levels of ICP +60/65, compared to the last July trade done at ICP +48 at the end of last week.

'The Post', IPTN to seek out-of-court settlement

'The Post', IPTN to seek out-of-court settlement JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Post and the state-owned aircraft maker IPTN agreed in principle yesterday to seek an out of court settlement of their dispute over a recent plane crash report, their lawyers said yesterday. After a two-hour meeting, the lawyers said they needed one day to discuss the agreement with their clients before they continued negotiating tomorrow.

Sushi nya Kita impresses during its opening week

Sushi nya Kita impresses during its opening week It started out like a chapter from Epicurus' Bad Days journal. It was 9 p.m. on a Friday night and there was practically no vacant parking spot in sight on Jl. Kemang Raya, South Jakarta. "Does it have to be Kemang?" groaned my partner, who claimed he hadn't eaten all day. But he knew only too well how to interpret my silence. Yes, it had to be Kemang.

UN food chief wants Thai help

UN food chief wants Thai help BANGKOK (AP): Thailand, one of Asia's most efficient food producers, was urged by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) chief yesterday to help less developed countries feed themselves. Jacques Diouf, the FAO director-general, and his staff said Thailand could help other countries develop agriculture and that private investment in food production would pay dividends in the future.

Ciputra sees profit up

Ciputra sees profit up JAKARTA (JP): PT Ciputra Development, a publicly listed property company, expects its net profit to grow 19 percent to Rp 156.4 billion (US$64.4 million) this year. Company director Harun Hajadi said yesterday revenue was projected to increase by 30.4 percent to Rp 736 billion. He said the net profit increased by 35.7 percent to Rp 31.2 billion in the first quarter of this year, over the same period last year.

Foreigners report cabby for 'robbery'

Foreigners report cabby for 'robbery' JAKARTA (JP): Two foreigners had reported a Mercury taxi driver for attempting to fool and rob them on their way back to a hotel, police said. City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the two men, Andrian Kepler, 32, of Germany and Eggember Karpau, 42, of Switzerland had made the report Monday night. "They accused the driver, identified as Tantoni, 27, of having plotted with two friends to rob them," Aritonang said.

Local stock marts 'should assist mining firms more'

Local stock marts 'should assist mining firms more' NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Jakarta and Surabaya stock exchanges should set special listing provisions for mining companies to raise funds through the markets to tap the country's big resources potential.

E. Timor gets new police chief

E. Timor gets new police chief DILI, East Timor: Col. Atok Rismanto was inducted yesterday as the new provincial police chief, replacing Col. Jusuf Mucharam who is being transferred to the National Police headquarters in Jakarta. Atok, formerly a deputy East Timor police chief, assumed the post in a simple ceremony here yesterday presided by National Police Deputy Chief for Operational Affairs Maj. Gen. M.B. Hutagalung, Antara reported.