Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 August 1997

65 articles found

Indonesia lags in oil product export plans

Indonesia lags in oil product export plans SINGAPORE (Reuter): Indonesia's ambition to be a petroleum products exporter in keeping with its status as a major crude oil exporter is not likely to be realized, industry sources said yesterday.

Govt to own all land reclaimed in North Jakarta

Govt to own all land reclaimed in North Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): The government is preparing a regulation stipulating that it will own the land currently being reclaimed in North Jakarta, State Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono said yesterday.

Northeast Thailand striving to be gateway to Indochina

Northeast Thailand striving to be gateway to Indochina UDON THANI, Thailand (JP): Thailand's northeast has seen far less tourist development than its famed southern beach resorts of Pattaya and Chiang Mai in the north.

Riau airport back to normal

Riau airport back to normal PEKANBARU, Riau: Activities returned to normal yesterday at Simpang Tiga International Airport which for over the past two months had been disrupted by haze, Antara reported yesterday.

Rupiah leads Southeast Asian currencies higher

Rupiah leads Southeast Asian currencies higher SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asian currencies were decidedly more upbeat yesterday as the Indonesian rupiah's strong gains and talk of funds unwinding long dollar positions lifted the gloom over the region, at least for the moment.

Southeast Asian corn imports seen up on El Nino drought

Southeast Asian corn imports seen up on El Nino drought SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asian animal feed buyers may have to import large additional quantities of corn for the fourth quarter as drought linked to the El Nino weather anomaly bites into domestic crops, traders said yesterday.

Building fire worsens KL haze

Building fire worsens KL haze KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A 20-story office building under construction in Kuala Lumpur caught fire for almost an hour late yesterday, worsening the haze already enveloping the city, witnesses said.

Manpower bill stifles growth of civil society

Manpower bill stifles growth of civil society JAKARTA (JP): Political and legal experts strongly criticized the draft manpower bill yesterday, saying it failed to accommodate the basic rights of workers and constricted the development of civil society.Political observer Muhammad A.S.

Local insurance industry needs more actuaries

Local insurance industry needs more actuaries JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs to double the number of actuaries in the country to support the rapid development in pension funds and insurance companies, a senior government official said yesterday.

Xanana will not be released, government official says

Xanana will not be released, government official says JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will send a reply to South African President Nelson Mandela, informing him that jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao will not be released, a senior government official said yesterday.

Minister blames poor laws for derelict land

Minister blames poor laws for derelict land JAKARTA (JP): Inadequate laws limiting land ownership is a major reason for the escalating amount of derelict land in Greater Jakarta, according to State Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono.

Java Marine enters Myanmar

Java Marine enters Myanmar RANGOON (DPA): Myanmar Shipyards and Java Marine Lines Pte have signed a contract to build an 8-million-Singapore-dollar (US$5.3-million), 56-metre-long ship to be used for offshore drilling, news reports said Thursday.

Parents reluctant to admit to kids' drug abuse: Police

Parents reluctant to admit to kids' drug abuse: Police JAKARTA (JP): The real number of drug abusers, especially teenagers, is much higher than reported due to parents' reluctance to report drug problems in their families, a police officer said yesterday.

Aussie coal exports surge

Aussie coal exports surge SYDNEY (Reuter): The Australian coal industry could increase exports by as much as 50 percent to A$12 billion a year with workplace reform, Leigh Clifford, energy chief executive for Rio Tinto Ltd, said yesterday.

Fujitsu boosts Asian market

Fujitsu boosts Asian market TOKYO (AFP): Japanese computer giant Fujitsu Ltd. plans to team up with Oracle Corp. of the United States to sell and install computer systems running Oracle's database software in Asia, a spokesman said yesterday.The agreement was reached by Fujitsu and Oracle Systems S.

Rupiah and stock market continue to gain ground

Rupiah and stock market continue to gain ground JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah surged yesterday by another 100 points against the U.S. dollar and stock prices increased 1.67 percent.Foreign exchange dealers said spot rupiah, which opened at 2,780/2,810, strengthened and broke the resistance level of...

Group protests govt plan to ban dubbing

Group protests govt plan to ban dubbing JAKARTA (JP): A group of dubbers staged a protest at the House of Representatives yesterday over the government's plan to ban dubbing in imported films screened on television.

Bishop Belo happy with education in East Timor

Bishop Belo happy with education in East Timor JAKARTA (JP): Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said East Timorese have to admit that the Indonesian government has outdone itself by providing them with the best educational facilities.

Krisdayanti gets platinum award

Krisdayanti gets platinum award JAKARTA (JP): Noted Indonesian singer Krisdayanti and her husband Anang Hermansyah have received a Quadruple Platinum award for the success of their album Cinta (Love).Sales have already exceeded 600,000 copies.

Shareholders okay Indocement's restructuring plan

Shareholders okay Indocement's restructuring plan JAKARTA (JP): Independent shareholders unanimously approved yesterday PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa's plan to spin-off and sell its 50.1 percent ownership in PT Indofood Sukses Makmur to focus its business on cement.At an extraordinary meeting, 99.

Currency storm heads for Hong Kong

Currency storm heads for Hong KongBy Nick Cumming-Bruce SINGAPORE: Modest recoveries by the currencies of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines -- which have been Asia's weakest -- Wednesday brought governments and dealers a welcome respite from weeks of frantic activity, but no peace of mind.

Ho Chi Minh City elects new mayor

Ho Chi Minh City elects new mayor HANOI (AFP): Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee said yesterday it had elected Vo Viet Thanh as mayor to shepherd Vietnam's biggest city into the 21st century.As chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee, a job he will hold for five years, Thanh will...

Outlook negative for top KL banks as economy slows

Outlook negative for top KL banks as economy slows KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Standard and Poor's revised yesterday its outlook for two of Malaysia's biggest banks, citing expectations that their asset quality and profitability will decline as the economy slows.

Seminar to showcase successful leadership

Seminar to showcase successful leadership JAKARTA (JP): The Army's Special Forces, General Electric and PT Astra International have one thing in common -- good leadership.The Foundation of Management Education and Development (YPPM) is organizing a seminar next week on leadership in the future in...

The Listening Post

The Listening Post "Building English Skills Through Newspaper + Radio" Produced by American Language Center in cooperation with The Jakarta Post and Radio Sonora FM 100.9 Mhz * Cappellini Restaurant in Center Park is the location for smart eating.

Pardjoko upsets councilors

Pardjoko upsets councilors JAKARTA (JP): City councilors in Commission E for social welfare said yesterday they were disappointed South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko did not attend a meeting with them to discuss a plan to move the mayoralty office.

Parents deprive children of their rights: Scholars

Parents deprive children of their rights: Scholars JAKARTA (JP): Religious scholars agreed yesterday that most often it is parents that deprive children of their rights.Moslem scholar Quraish Shihab of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Institute for Islamic Studies and Protestant theologist Victor...

Stickers for Bogor vans

Stickers for Bogor vans JAKARTA (JP): The Bogor Land Transportation Agency has started issuing stickers to public transport vans in a drive to stamp out illegal operators.The agency is also reviewing the vans' routes because some of them are becoming so saturated they are barely profitable, the...

House pledges to endorse all bills by Sept. 19

House pledges to endorse all bills by Sept. 19 JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives has pledged to endorse eight remaining bills, including an amendment of the House's internal rules, before its final recess on Sept. 19.

Currency instability to affect Honda

Currency instability to affect Honda TOKYO (AFP): Japan's Honda Motor Co. Ltd. said yesterday currency instability in Southeast Asia would have an impact on its earnings this year, biting into its automobile and motorcycle business there.

Environmental audits to be made compulsory

Environmental audits to be made compulsory JAKARTA (JP): A new environment bill will empower the government to order companies to conduct environmental audits, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja says.

Soeharto sets up team for info superhighway

Soeharto sets up team for info superhighway JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has set up a team comprising 14 cabinet ministers to help usher Indonesia into the information superhighway era.The team, headed by Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto, was founded by...

GM won't raise Opel price

GM won't raise Opel price JAKARTA (JP): PT General Motors Buana Indonesia (GMBI) announced yesterday it would not increase the price of its Opel despite the price hike of other cars."We are extremely reluctant to raise prices at present," said GMBI's director of sales Terry B. Johnsson yesterday.

Lending a helping hand

Lending a helping hand Six years ago I filed a request with Ragunan Zoo but it went unheeded. However, thanks to Mrs. Schmutzer, what I had earlier requested has become a reality.I must express my great gratitude to Mrs. Schmutzer for what she has done.

Govt's plan on Bulog hailed

Govt's plan on Bulog hailed JAKARTA (JP): Businesspeople and analysts hailed yesterday the government's plan to scrap the National Logistics Agency's (Bulog) trading monopoly in several commodities.Businessman Sudwikatmono, an executive at the Salim Group, said he welcomed the government's decision...

Two die in forest fires

Two die in forest fires LAHAT, South Sumatra: Aniruldi Rasiman, 30, and Pajiman Hasan, 50, died on Monday while trying to contain forest fires in Serai village, Merapi district.The two workers of forest concessionaire PT Musi Hutan Persada, a subsidiary of Barito Timber Pasifik, were on a tractor...

Moslem student association's independence questioned

Moslem student association's independence questioned YOGYAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of prominent speakers, the second day of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) congress saw a lively discussion on members' concern over the organization's independence.

Yogie blasts HMI for rejecting official

Yogie blasts HMI for rejecting official JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. lashed out yesterday at the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) for rejecting a speech by a senior ministry official in the recent opening of their congress.

Student stabbed to death in brawl on way to school

Student stabbed to death in brawl on way to school JAKARTA (JP): A senior high school student was killed in a street fight Wednesday, taking the death toll in inter-school brawls since the start of the school year to four.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Travel: My Country 2:35 Children's Film: Kelley 3:10 Children's Program: Tunas 3:35 Talk Show: Sambung Rasa 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Students' Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 5:10 Film: Home Green Home 5:25 Variety Show: Music City Today 5:30 Music: Paket 27 6:00...

ABRI appeals for new recruits

ABRI appeals for new recruits JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) Headquarters is inviting university graduates and holders of three-year university diplomas to join its education program for officers, spokesman for the Jakarta Military Command DJ. Nachrowi said yesterday.

Slashing monopolies

Slashing monopolies The rupiah debacle over the last few weeks, in spite of the internationally recognized strength of our economy, may have brought home the message to the government that the current financial difficulties cannot be tackled by fiscal and monetary instruments alone.

Search efforts stopped in Surabaya

Search efforts stopped in Surabaya SURABAYA: The authorities called off yesterday the search for missing people in Tuesday's boat accident on Brantas River, Antara reported yesterday.The news agency quoted Karangpilang police chief Capt.

S&P affirms rating, but revises outlook

S&P affirms rating, but revises outlook SYDNEY (Reuter): Standard & Poor's said yesterday it affirmed its ratings on Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Danamon and Bank Umum Nasional, but revised the outlook on these ratings to negative from stable.

Is dubbing foreign films good or bad for society?

Is dubbing foreign films good or bad for society?By Mochtar Buchori JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Post put forward two important questions in its editorial on Aug. 11, 1997. "Is the practice of dubbing foreign films good or bad for our national culture and values?" and "what is meant by 'national...

Mia books place in semifinal but Ardi loses

Mia books place in semifinal but Ardi losesBy Primastuti Handayani YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Open champion Ardy Wiranata's clings to a slim chance of making the men's singles semifinals of the 1997 Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship, but compatriot Mia Audina flirted with danger before...

Keep thieves out of restaurant

Keep thieves out of restaurant On Aug. 2, we were enjoying a pleasant family dinner at the Kenny Rogers Restaurant in Pondok Indah Mall. About three- quarters of the way through the meal, a somewhat thin, scruffy- looking man in his late 20s approached our table.

Players say Grand Slam must offer many points

Players say Grand Slam must offer many points YOGYAKARTA (JP): International shuttlers expect to earn many world ranking points from the Grand Slam series, which will replace the World Cup. The World Cup is currently an invitational event which does not influence the shuttlers' ranking.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Music and entertainment * Nikko Bali Hotel: - Kupu-kupu Amphitheater, Balinese dance performances at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Legong Dance, on Tuesday, Joged Bumbung, on Thursday, Ramayana, on Saturday. - Oo Looloos Santap Restaurant presents live music daily except Monday at 9 p.m.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 21, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 775 25 38,500 AHAP Insurance 2,500 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,000 50 500 Alumindo Light Metal 1,100 -75 129,500...

Thailand defends ASEAN policy

Thailand defends ASEAN policy BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand opened an international think-tank conference here yesterday with a defense of ASEAN's policy of constructive engagement against the "morally-driven" foreign policy of some Western nations.

Public backlash against TV levies

Public backlash against TV levies The controversial collection of levies from TV owners is making headlines again.State-owned Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), driven to its wit's end by the stubborn refusal of TV owners to pay their mandatory contributions, is now using security personnel to...

PAL suspends NY flights

PAL suspends NY flights MANILA (AFP): Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday it would suspend flights to New York from Sept. 2 because of "staggering" losses resulting from restrictions imposed by US aviation authorities.

A question of consistency

A question of consistency As a recent arrival in Jakarta I would like to make a comment about the coverage of international sporting events by The Jakarta Post. Having been in the city for more than one month now (and as an occasional visitor to Jakarta in the past) I have subscribed to your fine...

ABB ESI set to replace expatriate workers

ABB ESI set to replace expatriate workers SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Swiss company Asea Brown Bovery (ABB) will transfer most of its important management and operation positions of its boiler manufacturer subsidiary PT ABB Energy Systems Indonesia (ABB ESI) to Indonesian workers.

STIC revises earnings

STIC revises earnings SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore Technologies Industrial Corp said yesterday it had revised its earnings growth downwards to 10 percent from 15 percent previously.An official said at the group's interim results press conference that earnings growth for the first half was affected...

ASEAN urged to be cautious on Cambodian membership

ASEAN urged to be cautious on Cambodian membership JAKARTA (JP): A senior United States official has urged ASEAN to exercise caution and give the matter "serious thought" before admitting Cambodia into the group.

Builders told to subsidize customers

Builders told to subsidize customers JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Real Estate (REI), the association of real estate and housing developers, has called on members to subsidize their customers.REI chairman Edwin Kawilarang said Wednesday the subsidy could be given by offering interest rates lower than...

Kranggan toll gate opened

Kranggan toll gate opened JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned highway corporation, PT Jasa Marga, has opened its new access gate to the Jagorawi toll road at Kranggan near Cibinong.The Kranggan toll gate at the Gunung Putri flyover, about 30 kilometers from Jakarta, was designed to reduce traffic...

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Music and Entertainment * Tunjungan Crystal Hotel, Jl. Tunjungan 102-104: - Lounge Bar: Stief's Band, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, open at 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. - Lobby: Solo Piano, daily, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. * Mirama Hotel, Jl. Raya Darmo 58-76: - Mirama Bar: Desire Band, Monday.

More diarrhea patients

More diarrhea patients SEMARANG: The Dr. Kariadi Hospital has reported a 10 percent increase in the number of children treated for diarrhea in the past month.Antara quoted Dr. Rochmanadji Widayat from the hospital as saying that 692 children had been treated in July, with 107 of them or 15.

Telkomsel wins ISO-9002 certification

Telkomsel wins ISO-9002 certification JAKARTA (JP): Privately owned cellular operator PT Telkomsel has won an ISO-9002 certificate from TUV Rheinland of Germany for its service.Telkomsel, which operates the Global System for Mobile (GMS) communications, received here yesterday the ISO certificate...

Swedish Lindskog takes lead in East Java Open

Swedish Lindskog takes lead in East Java Open SURABAYA (JP): Stephen Lindskog of Sweden took the lead by one stroke despite his poor finishing of 2 over par-74 yesterday for a two-day total of 147 at the Ciputra Golf & Klub Keluarga here.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Tanda Tanya by Dwi Aryo Prihutomo and Ronny Agustinus, at CCF Gallery - French Cultural Center, Jl. Salemba Raya 25 Central Jakarta, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Sept. 20.

Australia to mend ties with PNG

Australia to mend ties with PNG CANBERRA (Reuter): Australia will seek to repair its ties with neighboring Papua New Guinea when foreign minister Alexander Downer makes a brief visit to meet leaders of the new government in Port Moresby next week.