Downside to increase in boardinghouses By Primastuti Handayani and Sri Wahyuni JAKARTA (JP): Boarding houses are not just about making a profit. Complex sociological sketches of real life are played out under their roofs by a motley stockpile of humanity, many from different social and educational backgrounds. Inevitably, their presence impinges on the surrounding community.

Photographs of a Jakarta seething in modernity By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): Relentless delving into the realm of modernistic culture has replaced sentimental cliches of humanity and poverty in this developing metropolis with bump-and-grind insights. A young, almost refreshingly brash artistic lot is working on giving a poignantly incisive look into contemporary Jakarta, countering the perfunctory neglect of human and social concerns.

Rizqi, Santi crowned Jakarta ambassadors By Edith Hartanto and Emilie Sueur JAKARTA (JP): She wants to be a lawyer and he wants to be a businessman. But for the next 12 months, they will have to postpone their ambitions and serve as ambassadors of Jakarta. Rizqi Indrawan and Garnasih Aesanti, alias Santi, were crowned Abang and None Jakarta, or Mr. and Miss Jakarta, at the Jakarta Convention Center, beating 15 other couples, on Friday night.

Thammanoon leads Sabah Masters KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (JP): Thailand's Tahmmanoon Sriroj, alternating between the two drivers off the tee, broke the course record yesterday to take the lead after the third round of the US$200,000 Sabah Masters at Sabah Golf and Country Club. Using one driver for length and another for accuracy the 28- year-old fired a seven-under par 65 making an eagle, six birdies and one bogey to break the previous course record by a stroke.

'Night Falls on Manhattan' pounds with corruption By Laksmi Pamuntjak-Djohan JAKARTA (JP): If one person can be cited for molding New York's urban angst into its present film noir form, it is Sidney Lumet. Starting in the 1970s with his memorable Serpico, Lumet has helped immortalize the genre's hallmarks of frenetic pace, the neurotic drive for success, the daily convergence of hyper- tension, opportunism, skepticism and cut-throat competition creating the conundrum that is the city itself.

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 People and Events 9:30 Talk Show: Disekitar Kita 10:00 TVRI News 10:30 Music: Album Minggu Kita 11:30 Teenagers' Program: Temu Remaja 12:15 p.m.

Kasparov still number 1, Utut slipped to rank 60 By Kristianus Liem JAKARTA (JP): PCA's world champion Garry Kasparov achieved an all-time high Elo rating of 2820 when the July 1997 list was posted by FIDE. Vladimir Kramnik leaped up to 2770 and second place. Viswanathan Anand maintains his 2765 rating but slipped one rank to be third. Veselin Topalov, the 22-year-old Bulgarian is fourth, pushing FIDE champion Anatoly Karpov into fifth.

A midsummer night's dream at Mt. Gede-Pangrango By Sona Vora Blessing CIBODAS, West Java (JP): When we left Switzerland for an assignment in Indonesia, one of the things high on our checklist of things to do was trekking up a volcano. Indonesia is graced with many beautiful volcanoes, so which was our first going to be? Since we didn't have the luxury of more than a weekend at our disposal, we chose to visit the twin volcanoes of Mt. Gede and Mt.

Malaysia's first daughter speaks out on touchy topics By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): Marina Mahathir may be the daughter of the Malaysian prime minister, but this lofty distinction has not kept her from becoming actively involved in controversial causes. She joined the Malaysian AIDS Foundation as a fund-raiser in 1993 when mention of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was controversial (many would argue it still is).

Guess What? Forbes magazine has listed Muhammad "Bob" Hasan as one of the wealthiest people in the world, but he said he didn't know how rich he was. "I don't know. I can only eat three times a day," he told Reuters this week during an interview in a remote part of East Kalimantan province. Mangkajang is the site of a $1.3 billion pulp mill built by Hasan which President Soeharto inaugurated Wednesday.

Swiss painter taps essences of Bali By Astri Wright UBUD, Bali (JP): The marbled, cooling halls of the main exhibition building at the Agung Rai Museum have yielded the pluralism, variation and color of the Indonesian Art Awards exhibition to the vision of a single artist: Swiss painter and printmaker Marc Jurt.

Sarawak state bans gambling KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's eastern Sarawak state has banned all forms of gambling in a district to protect landowners expected to become "instant millionaires" thanks to the Bakun dam project, news reports said yesterday. Some 9,500 villagers from 1,600 villages affected in a dam project would receive compensation of 300 million ringgit (US$115.4 million) from developer Bakun Hydro-Electric Corp. by the end of the year.

Soeharto opens course for new legislators JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto kicked off a crash course for prospective members of the House of Representatives yesterday intended to equip them with basic knowledge of state affairs before starting their term on Oct. 1. All but 12 of the 500 prospective House members were present at the opening of the unprecedented course.

Guess What? Despite the huge popularity of his many TV series, producer Raam Punjabi has even grander designs to weave them into the fabric of Indonesian life. He wants to make series produced by his Multivision firm an integral part of daily living, the sixth basic need to sustain Indonesians day in and day out to complement the government's official list of rice, meat, fruit, vegetables and milk.

Musician Harry Roesli still up to his 'naughty' ways By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): Twenty years on, Harry Roesli is still stuck with the nickname of the "naughty" one. The 'si bengal' label came from his penchant for putting a heavy dose of wry social criticism into his music. Since his debut album Malaria in 1971, he has satirized social conditions in sharp yet never cynical works.

Music series explores local traditions Seri Musik Indonesia (Indonesian Music Series) CD Dian Records Copyright: Masyarakat Seni Pertunjukan Indonesia Distributor: PT Dian Pramudita Kusuma, Jakarta Rp 25,000 per CD First six CDs titled Musik Dari Pinggiran Jakarta; Musik Populer Indonesia; Musik Dari Nias & Sumatera Utara; Gandrung Banyuwangi; Musik Betawi Dan Sunda; Musik Malam Dari Sumatera Barat.

All quiet on the Indonesian cultural front JAKARTA (JP): As I watched the shadow puppets prance and contort their stiff arms on television one night, I wished that I understood kromo inggil, the high Javanese language used in the performance. With no subtitles displayed on the screen, I wondered just how many people would be able to follow the cryptic story slowly unfolding before me.

The changing face of boardinghouses Boardinghouses, an important accommodation alternative for many Jakartans, are booming in conjunction with the growth of other service industries, such as new shopping centers needing houses for staff, and university centers. The Jakarta Post's reporters Devi M. Asmarani, IGGP Bayu Ismoyo, Imanuddin, Kosasih Deradjat, Listiana Operananta, Primastuti Handayani, Riyadi and Sri Wahyuni explore the business. Related stories on Page 3 and Page 9.

Humor makes the search easier By Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): Ask anyone who lives in the city what it was like for them finding a home and you may be sorry you asked, says a guide to house hunting in Jakarta. What makes this city a fascinating metropolis can also make it an infuriating place for house hunting, especially for expatriates unfamiliar with the local customs, the endless network of streets and alleys, and a confusing house numbering system. But many realtors are ready to help.

Gus Dur writes on subjects he knows best Kiai Nyentrik Membela Pemerintah (An Eccentric Moslem Scholar in Defense of the Government) By Abdurrahman Wahid Introduction by Mohamad Sobary LKIS, Yogyakarta, 1997 VI and 133 pages Rp 10,000 YOGYAKARTA (JP): The essays in this book can be considered among the most significant rational adventures made by Moslem intellectual Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, the leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the nation's biggest Moslem organization.

New blood for Indonesia's fashion industry By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): How quickly the clock turns for the fashion police. Just as fad followers were taking a deep breath to fit into this summer's figure-defining cheongsams, designers/ dictators in Milan, Paris, and New York, last March did an Exorcist-worthy 360 degree head-turn. They unveiled Fall 1997 collections that looked like leftovers from ten years ago.

Wise tips for boardinghouse hunters in Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): You finally landed your dream job, that coveted one destined to lead on a career path to success and glory. A pothole lies ahead to throw all the best laid plans asunder. Distance. Home is in another part of the city, and commuting to and fro would be a big waste of time, energy and money. Jakarta's infamous traffic jams are never time or nerve friendly.

Sukra's Arrest - variation on the Babad Tanah Jawi My name is Sukra. Born in Kartasura, 17.., early one Tuesday morning, as the moon rolled behind the mountain. At that time, people say, the dogs in the jungle bayed long and loud, and a retainer remarked, "A jackal's cry was heard the day the Kurawa children were born." My father, a blue-blood of power, paled. Before his eyes appeared a vision: the trees, all taking their leave and departing, never to return. On my 21st birthday, I was arrested.

Subtle changes beneath SLORC stalemate with Suu Kyi David I. Steinberg examines the political situation in Myanmar. SINGAPORE: "It is as if a large truck were rushing headlong into a small Volkswagen", as one anonymous observer in Yangon recently described the political situation in Myanmar, comparing the ruling SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Class soprano, pianist suffuse love in the air By Laksmi Pamuntjak-Djohan JAKARTA (JP): Loh Siew Tuan stood on the formidable Erasmus stage, a splendid vision in turquoise and pink Thai Silk, looking every inch the diva we had come to expect. Ten seconds later, we saw Dr. Kuei Pin Yeo slip close by the piano, quenching a smile, ever her beguilingly modest self.

Bangkok is heaven for street vendors BANGKOK (JP): Bangkok sidewalk vendors know none of the hardships of their less fortunate Jakarta counterparts. They do not run away at the sight of public order officials, fight to get space or grudgingly submit to payment of illegal fees. Bangkok authorities provide them with space and cleaning services for the area. There are no fees, illegal or otherwise.