Tailor says his craft will never go out of style By I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): Just eight or even three hours for a new tailored suit? No joke, according to some tailors in the capital. Despite all the gloomy predictions, the garment and ready-to- wear apparel sectors are unlikely to sound the death knell for the tailoring business. Tailors say the creative process of sewing and designing involves taste and artistic values, and will never go out of style. Anil K.

Child models live out their parents' dreams By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): The voice of little French singer Jordy erupted in the mirror-walled studio of OQ Modeling School, where aspiring young models were learning to work the catwalk. All of them, from slender teenage girls to bouncing toddlers, were rehearsing for a Sunday fashion show held in one of Jakarta's flashiest shopping malls. "Pose in the center! Pose in the center!" said instructor Yetti I.

Tailors survive tough competition The ready-to-wear clothing business is flourishing. Name any item, be it mass produced or an exclusive houte couture, it is available. Despite this, tailors manage to survive and prosper. The Jakarta Post's team of reporters, Prapti Widinugraheni, I. Christianto, Teguh Karyanto, Ida Indawati Khouw, Dwi Atmanta, Wirasti Wiryono, Rita A. Widiadana and Mulkan Salmona, look at the issue. More stories are on Page 8 and Page 9.

Singapore warns of Spratlys' effect SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's Foreign Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar warned yesterday that the dispute over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea could wreck navigational freedom and affect the global community. Launching two patrol vessels to provide coastal surveillance and defense capabilities, he said freedom of navigation through the South China Sea and the narrow but busy Malacca Straits straddling Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia was vital.

A scramble for energy resources? Asia's Deadly Triangle: How Arms, Energy and Growth Threaten to Destabilize Asia Pacific By Kent E. Calder Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London, 1996, 253 pages SINGAPORE: In a recently published book, Asia's Deadly Triangle, Princeton University's Kent Calder has raised the specter of a future energy "gap" developing in East Asia in the next few decades.

Indonesian elite build their own palaces JAKARTA (JP): The lucky inheritors of Indonesia's post- independence development riches are fitting nicely into the trend to "import everything". The insatiable craving for Western status symbols adds yet another feather to the cap of luxury goods importers. Houses now top the assortment of clothing, jewelry and cars imported for Indonesia's affluent.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. TVRI News 6:25 Morning News 6:45 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:15 Healthy and Fit 7:30 Children's Program: Arena 123 8:00 TV Series: Brudy and Family 8:30 Performances: Warna Warni 9:00 Children's Film 9:30 Cooking Program: Masakan Indonesia 10:00 TVRI News 10:30 Music: Album Minggu Kita 11:30 People and Events 12:15 p.m.

What RI stability means to the ASEAN region By Daljit Singh SINGAPORE: Indonesian stability has been such an accepted phenomenon in the past 30 years that it has come to be taken for granted. It is, however, crucial to the region and to ASEAN. After the abortive pro-communist coup of Sept. 30, 1965, the new political forces headed by General Soeharto moved quickly to seek regional reconciliation.

The show must go on for the 'rocked' group Slank By Achmad Nurhoeri JAKARTA (JP): The show must go on. Easy to say when everything goes exactly as planned. But easy times never last, especially in the capricious world of Indonesian show business where only the strong can survive. When the going gets tough and the tough get going, every performer is put in the hot seat. Sometimes just a benign shrug can reduce a huge showcase to tatters. But sometimes a typhoon is not enough to blow an act away.

'Dangdut' music gala awards night glitters By Achmad Nurhoeri JAKARTA (JP): "Dangdut is not a poor business," quipped dangdut sage Jaja Miharja. If you were at the Senayan Sports Center last Thursday night, you knew it was no lie. That night, the dangdut music world proudly presented its flying colors, a sight to amaze anyone. Is the above picture too dim? Can't blame you if you currently have the common stereotype vista about dangdut music.

Surly Secretaries, Poor English Reading the article titled Surly Secretaries, English Lesson in The Jakarta Post (Sunday, June 29), I could not help laughing. I agree with what Suwara Sari wrote. It is true that most secretaries in our country are surly. Aren't they professionals? Some of them are. But this is the fact we often have to face. Whenever I ask a secretary in Indonesian to put me through to her boss, she always says, "Sorry, my boss is busy and cannot be disturbed now".

Sitor expresses thoughts with relish By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): Sitor Situmorang, one of Indonesia's most famous poets, spoke about all the places he has lived in. Los Angeles, New York, The Hague, Islamabad, Paris. He listed them off in an interview with nonchalance, and referred to them as "settings" or "stimulants" rather than home addresses.

Bangladesh, India meet on sharing common rivers DHAKA (Reuter): Water resources ministers of Bangladesh and India yesterday resumed talks on cooperation in the use of the waters of their common rivers for the first time in seven years, meeting sources said. They said Indian Water Resources Minister Shees Ram Ola and his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdur Razzak headed their sides at the Joint River Commission meeting.

Women's soccer team prepares for the Games JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian wrestlers, soccer players and softballers will compete overseas in preparation for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in October. Indonesia's women's soccer team will go to Hong Kong and China, softballers will go to China and wrestlers will go to Rumania. Women's soccer coach, Muhardi, said the team had played 15 friendlies against men's teams.

Local shuttlers dominate Indonesian Open c'ship SURAKARTA, Central Java (AFP): The home team's singles shuttlers yesterday cleared the way for an all-Indonesian final in the Indonesian Open badminton championship by making short work of their South Korean and Malaysian opponents. In the women's singles, first seed and the 1992 Olympic gold medalist Susi Susanti had an easy time trashing South Korea's Lee Joo-hyun in straight sets 11-1, 11-2 that lasted barely 30 minutes.

Defiant Hun Sen rejects ASEAN peace plan PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP): A peace mission to Cambodia failed yesterday when defiant Hun Sen flatly rejected outside mediation, and the country's exiled prince warned that a full-blown civil war could break out. Hun Sen's refusal to accept a peace proposal by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - which would have required him to share power - brought the initiative to a halt.

HK deportation law comes under fire from youngsters By Carrie Lee HONG KONG (Reuter): "I won't go even if they kill me," said five-year-old Ng Sze-man, who sneaked into Hong Kong together with her mother a year ago. "I want to stay," she said. Ng was one of hundreds of children born in mainland China who queued with family members before dawn at government offices on Monday to seek legal aid to stay in the territory.

Gunadarma University backs World Cities Chess c'ships By Kristianus Liem JAKARTA (JP): For the umpteenth time Gunadarma University has organized a big chess tournament in Indonesia. This time it was the sensational World Invitational Cities Chess Championship -- the first such tournament ever.

Ho Chi Minh City tries to reduce red tape By Tran Khanh SINGAPORE: Since 1992, the Vietnamese government has been making efforts to reform its inefficient and over-staffed bureaucracy. But five years later, both Vietnamese and foreigners living in the country continue to be weary of the red tape. The bureaucracy was so bad for foreign investors that the authorities became worried it may be driving them away. Last year, Ho Chi Minh City spearheaded a campaign to slice the red tape.

All dressed up and plenty to go on JAKARTA (JP): Clothes make the man and woman, to paraphrase the famous saying, and the tailor's job is to produce apparel which fits their clients' needs for whatever occasion. Tailoring, considered a cottage industry here, provides sartorial style for people who wear uniforms in the workplace, school or at cultural events.

Are we a land of smiles or scowls? JAKARTA (JP): Overheard in a lady's restroom, in a workplace, early Monday morning: "Did you see Donna strutting around in her pants? What a sight!