Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 25 August 1997

55 articles found

First of six museum exhibitions starts soon

First of six museum exhibitions starts soon JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to hold the first of a series of exhibitions at six museums next month to promote Jakarta's treasures. The head of the city's museums and renovation agency, Haswidi A. Taufik, said over the weekend the exhibitions were part of a campaign to promote museums as tourist spots.

Aircraft symposium in Bandung

Aircraft symposium in Bandung BANDUNG: Russian, German, American, Korean and Indonesian experts will gather for the Second International Aircraft Propulsion Symposium in Bandung from Aug. 27 to Aug. 28. The event will be organized by state aircraft maker IPTN, Garuda Indonesia, the Bandung Institute of Technology and the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology. The state minister of research and technology, B.J. Habibie, will open the symposium.

Siemens markets new handset

Siemens markets new handset JAKARTA (JP): German telecommunications equipment maker Siemens will launch this week a new Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications handset, the S-10, said to be the first mobile terminal with color display. The new handset, which will be distributed by Siemen's sole Indonesian agent, PT Dian Graha Elektrika, also offers longer talk time and standby. There are about 800,000 GSM users in Indonesia.

Gus Dur tells NU members to beware of politics

Gus Dur tells NU members to beware of politics JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), told members Saturday to be aware of politics but wary of political involvement.

National development and using social capital

National development and using social capital By Aleksius Jemadu BANDUNG (JP): Over the last three decades the Indonesian government has been focusing on economic development. Several traditional policy instruments like taxation, raising export revenues, and foreign debt have been employed. Very rarely, if ever, do we stop to think about the necessity of social capital in our national development. But social capital is just as essential as economic capital.

Ansett recruits Indonesians

Ansett recruits Indonesians JAKARTA (JP): Airline Ansett Australia will employ Indonesians to work as flight attendants. The company's general manager in Indonesia, Con Korfiatis, said over the weekend Ansett already employed 44 Indonesians. "As part of Ansett's commitment to providing a superior service, it is important that we have bi-lingual flight attendants on our team to meet the needs of our non-English- speaking passengers," he said.

Lorentz becomes national park

Lorentz becomes national park JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The government has declared the mountainous Lorentz nature preserve in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, a national park, Antara reported Saturday. The news agency said the area, which covers the protected forests from Mt. Trikora to Arafura Beach, became the Lorentz National Park through a ministerial decree dated March 19, 1997. The park covers 2.5 million hectare.

Float parade entertains thousands of Jakartans

Float parade entertains thousands of Jakartans JAKARTA (JP): Tens of thousands of Jakartans turned out yesterday to watch 81 colorful floats parade from National Monument (Monas) square along Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta. People began piling into the square and lining the streets an hour before President Soeharto kicked off the parade at 7:30 a.m. from the southern part of the square.

Sex discrimination culturally embedded

Sex discrimination culturally embedded JAKARTA (JP): Sex discrimination cannot be stopped by economic development without abandoning cultural perceptions which sustain gender inequalities, experts said yesterday. Experts said that inequalities were perpetuated by the inherent cultural tenet that remains here -- that women were subordinate to men. These perceptions often limited women's access to the economic sector.

Pemuda Pancasila wants to improve image

Pemuda Pancasila wants to improve image JAKARTA (JP): The nationalist youth organization Pemuda Pancasila (PP) is trying to polish its image and is asking the public to stop thinking of it as a group of hoodlums. The chief of the organization's Jambi branch, Edy Sitanggang, said "such an impression should be discarded". "PP does not discount the possibility that some of its members do tolerate a roughneck system, but the number is relatively small," Edy was quoted by Antara as saying.

Mahathir backs accused deputy

Mahathir backs accused deputy KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad revealed yesterday he had received a letter alleging his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, was involved in a sex scandal but said the allegations were false. "There is no truth in it," Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency when asked by reporters about rumors that he had received a letter recently from someone claiming that a senior government official was involved in a sex scandal.

Fire victim recovers

Fire victim recovers JAKARTA (JP): A man who was injured in a fire on the fifth floor of Pasaraya in Blok M, South Jakarta, Saturday was recovering in Pertamina hospital yesterday. A paramedic at the hospital, Herman, said that Oleh, 19, had been moved from the emergency unit to a treatment room on the fourth floor. "Oleh is getting better. He is no longer on a drip," he said. He said Oleh had burns on his legs and body.

RP to receive $490m from Japan Export-Import Bank

RP to receive $490m from Japan Export-Import Bank MANILA (AFP): The Philippines will soon receive US$490 million from the Japan Export-Import Bank partly to augment foreign exchange reserves depleted in a failed defense against currency speculators, an official said yesterday. Central Bank of the Philippines external debt director Cristina Orbeta said $490 million would be released within 10 days.

Issuers feel brunt of financial woes in Southeast Asia

Issuers feel brunt of financial woes in Southeast Asia SINGAPORE (Reuter): Currency turmoil in Southeast Asia has wreaked havoc on local stock markets and brought the market for initial public offerings (IPOs) to a virtual standstill in some countries, investment bankers said. While investor interest in some markets, such as Hong Kong, appears to be holding up, other markets, like Thailand, are not so lucky.

Asian stock markets seen unstable

Asian stock markets seen unstable SINGAPORE (Reuter): Asian stock markets are expected to remain volatile in the week ahead in the face of continued uncertainty on Wall Street and in Asian currency markets, traders and analysts said. Regional bourses were seen as unlikely to gain ground in the absence of any clear signals from the U.S.'s Dow Jones index, which suffered a steep 177-point drop on Friday before bouncing back to close just 6.04 points down at 7887.91.

Timika calm but tense amidst tight security

Timika calm but tense amidst tight security JAKARTA (JP): Timika, in Irian Jaya's Mimika regency, remained quiet but tense over the weekend as tight security blanketed the area following an outbreak of violence in Harapan Kwamki Lama village. Local witnesses said scores of army and police personnel were dispatched to watch the town's main roads. Dozens of emergency security posts were also set up in the town.

RI wants more trade with African countries

RI wants more trade with African countries JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian businessmen believe that South Africa and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau are promising places to expand business. A delegation of Indonesian business representatives explored the possibilities of establishing cooperation in investment and trade with African businesses, in a trade mission to the two countries at the end of last month.

Hun Sen finally seizes O'Smach

Hun Sen finally seizes O'Smach CHONG CHOM PASS, Thailand (Agencies): Cambodian troops loyal to strongman Hun Sen overran O'Smach, the last frontier town held by his ousted co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh, witnesses said yesterday. They said a pocket of fewer than 50 of Ranariddh's soldiers abandoned their last position near the border before sunset yesterday, taking with them a portrait of King Norodom Sihanouk from a wall of a pavilion on the edge of O'Smach.

Lippo Securities predicts rise in pretax profit

Lippo Securities predicts rise in pretax profit JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed securities firm PT Lippo Securities has predicted its pretax profit will increase 154 percent to Rp 155 billion (US$58.5 million) this year from Rp 61 billion last year. The company said Saturday its after tax profit would surge 185 percent to Rp 130.1 billion.

Brawl mars Islamic students' congress

Brawl mars Islamic students' congress YOGYAKARTA (JP): A brawl added insult to injury, marring the 21st congress of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) here over the weekend. An Ujungpandang representative, identified as Iwan, needed two stitches to his head after the flare-up that followed protests by some participants about chairman Taufik Hidayat's accountability speech at Saturday's session.

Pertamina's management

Pertamina's management I would like to comment on the article Caltex's view on Pertamina 'faulty' (Thursday, Aug. 14) by R.O. Hutapea. I think Mr. Hutapea did a good job presenting facts about Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) expertise that Pertamina acquired and about the history of LNG in Indonesia. But in my opinion, there are other factors to consider when evaluating the management of oil fields by Pertamina instead of Caltex. The two main factors are management and the application of technology.

City Logistics Agency to control food prices

City Logistics Agency to control food prices JAKARTA (JP): The City Logistics Agency will begin supplying stocks of staple food to local markets today in a bid to stabilize prices during the rupiah crisis, a councilor said. Agency staff will also be deployed to monitor the prices at markets and prevent price hikes, Djafar Badjeber, head of Commission B of economic affairs, told The Jakarta Post.

Bali, Bahia sign deal

Bali, Bahia sign deal JAKARTA (JP): Bali has signed an economic agreement with Brazil's Bahia province to promote tourism, agriculture and trade. Bali's governor, Ida Bagus Oka, and Bahia's governor, Cesar Augosto Rabello, signed the agreement Saturday in Denpasar, Bali, Antara reported over the weekend. Besides the deal with Bahia, Bali has signed similar agreements with Darwin in Australia, Okinawa in Japan and Ceiju in South Korea, Oka said.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: by Sri Hadhy, Tulus Warsito, Sukriyal Sadin and Kristiyanto at Hotel Kristal Jl. Tarogong Raya, Cilandak Barat, South Jakarta, 24 hours, until Sept. 30. * 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. * Painting Exhibition: Romance by Firman Ichsan, at Cemara 6 Galeri Kafe, Jl. HOS.

Mandala flies to Ambon

Mandala flies to Ambon JAKARTA (JP): Mandala Airlines, one of the country's scheduled airlines, will operate one more service to Ambon, Maluku. Mandala's district manager in Ambon, Arie Andrianto, said the decision to add the new service was made following successful extra flights linking Ambon and Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi with cities in Java and Sumatra including Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung and Medan.

Portugal rejects helping Santana

Portugal rejects helping Santana LISBON (Reuter): Portugal has rejected a plea from Timorese resistance leader Konis Santana for support in the armed struggle against Indonesia, but has given a cautious welcome to Santana's proposal for partial autonomy in the restive territory.

Observer suggests open talks on succession

Observer suggests open talks on succession JAKARTA (JP): A political observer has called for open talks on national leadership succession, saying Indonesians must think about the post-Soeharto era. Former Golkar legislator Marzuki Darusman said in a discussion with Jakarta-based political correspondents Saturday that discourses on succession should start and not be treated as a political taboo. "Sooner or later, we must think about the post-Soeharto leadership era," Marzuki said.

Minister to recommend credit for concessionaires

Minister to recommend credit for concessionaires JAKARTA (JP): The minister of forestry, Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo, has promised his ministry will help timber companies to get bank loans. The minister said his ministry would issue recommendations if banks asked for them, Antara reported Saturday. "Banks so far have never asked for a recommendation from the ministry of forestry," he said commenting on reports that many timber companies had trouble getting bank credit.

No new hotel in Manado

No new hotel in Manado JAKARTA (JP): North Sulawesi's Governor E.E. Mangindaan said that Manado, capital of the province, is temporary closed to any new hotel investment as there are already many star-rated hotels in operation. He said there were five hotels under construction in Manado. "So, temporarily there will be no more licenses for new hotels," Antara quoted Mangindaan as saying in Manado Saturday.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Travel: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Lucan 3:10 TV Drama: Diantara Kita 3:35 Belief in God the Almighty 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Health Program: Teenagers and their problems 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Sports 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, The Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Education Program: Dunia Mahasiswa 8:00 New: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Variety Show: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30...

Going green

Going green Imperfections notwithstanding, the new environment law, which the House of Representatives passed Friday, is a welcome improvement on the current one, which dates from 1982. While the present law provides for penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a Rp 100 million fine for offenders, the new legislation makes it possible for the state to penalize violators with sentences of up to 15 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of Rp 750 million.

UK's Cook to talk human rights, business in Asia

UK's Cook to talk human rights, business in Asia LONDON (Reuter): British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook starts a visit tomorrow to four Southeast Asian countries to deepen business and political ties while stressing the importance Britain attaches to human rights. Cook's whistlestop tour -- his first to the region -- will take him to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore.

Trust networking in Asia

Trust networking in Asia By Bob Widyahartono JAKARTA (JP): Prof. Francis Fukuyama, a Japanese American sociologist, was in town recently upon the invitation of Prasetio Executive Development and the Association of Indonesian Economists. The professor, who shot to fame a couple of years ago with his book The End of History, exposed his latest work Trust: The Social Virtues & The Creation of Prosperity to an audience of businesspeople and academics.

RI bidding to supply Sukhoi spareparts

RI bidding to supply Sukhoi spareparts JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is sending a team to Moscow today to negotiate the purchase of 12 Sukhoi Su-30Ks, and bid for the right to manufacture the Russian company's spareparts. Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said in Bandung over the weekend that the team would be led by Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

PAL says it will suspend Seoul-Los Angeles flights

PAL says it will suspend Seoul-Los Angeles flights MANILA (AFP): Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Saturday it will cancel flights to Los Angeles via Seoul from Sept. 1 because of aircraft restrictions imposed by U.S. aviation authorities. The announcement came two days after the Philippines' national flag carrier said it was scrapping flights to New York from September 2 because of "staggering" losses resulting from the Federal Aviation Administration restriction imposed in 1995.

Security guard arrested

Security guard arrested JAKARTA (JP): Anyone who plans to hire security guard services are better off hiring personnel who have been trained by police to guarantee their skills and personal conduct, South Jakarta police chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto said over the weekend. Sisno made the statement after a security guard at Brawijaya Apartments in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was arrested Friday for allegedly robbing a Japanese tenant.

Susi wins World Cup for fifth time

Susi wins World Cup for fifth time By Primastuti Handayani YOGYAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Susi Susanti of Indonesia grabbed the women's singles title at the Sanyo World Cup badminton championships at Among Rogo sports hall here yesterday. Susi -- the 1992 Olympic gold medalist and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist -- beat arch rival Ye Zhaoying of China -- All England winner and world champion -- 11-8, 11-5 in a 27-minute match.

Kids Club to open school in town

Kids Club to open school in town JAKARTA (JP): An international English course for toddlers, the Kids Club, is due to open its first school in Indonesia next month. Marketing director of the Hampshire, England-based course, Elaine Hodgins, said Saturday the new Kids Club school on Jl. Cikajang in South Jakarta would be run under a franchise system.

Comics can be 'gateway' to regular reading

Comics can be 'gateway' to regular reading JAKARTA (JP): Comic books can stimulate children's interest in reading, experts said Saturday. Educator Henny Supolo Sitepu, cartoonist Dwi Koendoro, literary critics Sudjoko and Jaya Suprana discussed the effect of comics on children's reading interests and their imagination. Each expert looked at the positive and negative aspects of reading comics and concluded that, if managed well, comics could help children develop a love of reading.

Move to reconcile E. Timorese families

Move to reconcile E. Timorese families JAKARTA (JP): A Portuguese business delegation has arrived to promote better understanding of their country, and facilitate the reconciliation of East Timorese families. President of Fundacao Timor para a Reconciliacao e Desenvolvimento (Timor Foundation for Reconciliation and Development), Abilio Araujo, said the visit was aimed at heightening awareness of Indonesia in Portugal.

Share prices on JSX likely to remain volatile

Share prices on JSX likely to remain volatile JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are expected to remain volatile this week due to continued uncertainty over rupiah and other Southeast Asian currencies, securities analysts and dealers said. They said the sharp rise in interest rates would dampen trading impetus in the stock exchange as investors would shift their investment to bank deposits, which would offer higher gains.

Building owners reject govt's plan to destroy fences

Building owners reject govt's plan to destroy fences JAKARTA (JP): Owners of high-rise buildings along Jl. M.H. Thamrin are demanding the city review its plan which will tear down fences between buildings to make the street "friendlier". Sari Pan Pacific Hotel's communication director, Satria Wira, said Saturday that building owners were not against the plan to demolish fences separating buildings.

House threatens to delay COW deliberations

House threatens to delay COW deliberations JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives' Commission VI for industry, mining, manpower and investment has threatened to delay deliberations on the seventh generation draft contracts of work (COWs) until the government has resolved the issue of the commission taking bribes from COW applicants. The commission's chairman, Erie Soekardja, said "we want to work in a conducive atmosphere.

Scorned by Malaysia

Scorned by Malaysia From Forum Keadilan Our people, mainly workers, are often scorned in Malaysia. I often wonder what should be done about it without sacrificing the existing good relations between the two countries. I would like to see our officials, both in Indonesia and on assignment in Malaysia, take measures to solve the problem. The caricatures appearing in the Malaysian media paint a bad picture of Indonesians. I feel our nation is being trampled on.

Small businesses get new center

Small businesses get new center JAKARTA (JP): Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation, in cooperation with related government institutions and private firms, has established the country's first small business development center in Padang, West Sumatra. The director general of small enterprises from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, Anwar Supriyadi, inaugurated the center Saturday.

EVA Air urges Indonesia to open its skies wider

EVA Air urges Indonesia to open its skies wider TAIPEI (JP): EVA Air, Taiwan's second largest airline company, has urged Indonesia to open more of its air routes to foreign airlines in line with the Open Sky policy. "We are quite happy with our Indonesian operation and look forward to increasing our service to your country if the market needs it," EVA Air's Junior Vice President K.W.

Jamu maker exports

Jamu maker exports JAKARTA (JP): Traditional jamu (herbal medicine) producer PT Sido Muncul receives Rp 300 million (US$111,000) per month in export earnings from other Association of Southeast Asian countries, the company's executive said. President of the Central Java-based Sido Muncul, Irwan Hidayat, said in Semarang, Central Java, over the weekend, that demand for jamu in other ASEAN countries had increased significantly.

Soros 'involved' in currency attacks

Soros 'involved' in currency attacks KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he is convinced that American billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros is the prime force behind the recent currency assault on Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian countries. "We have definite information that Soros is involved. Of course he is not the only one... But he started it.

Chipcard Reader: Another security measure for your data

Chipcard Reader: Another security measure for your data By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): First of all, some of you out there have been asking for my E-mail address. You have requested a much simpler way to share information with me. Okay. I truly appreciate your interest in my column and I am sure you will send me a lot of useful information and tips that I can share with other readers. So, to show you my appreciation, I will reveal my E-mail address. It is: zatni@myself.com. No.

The end of monopolies?

The end of monopolies? Even as the rupiah was enduring relentless pressure, the surprise statement reached us about government plans to remove monopolies. The statement, made by the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance/Development Supervisor, Saleh Afiff, immediately sparked comment and won the strong support of people, some of whom even wanted to see the plan realized. This spontaneous reaction can be attributed to at least three facts.

Ramayana profits up 79%

Ramayana profits up 79% JAKARTA (JP): The owner and operator of Ramayana Department stores, PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa, posted a 79 percent increase in net profit to Rp 61 billion (US$23.01 million) in the first semester this year from the corresponding period last year. The company said yesterday the rupiah's depreciation against the American greenback over the past few weeks did not have a significant impact on the company's performance as it had no exposure to foreign currency debts.

Fires leave hundreds homeless

Fires leave hundreds homeless BANDUNG: Fire broke out simultaneously in the districts of Lengkong and Cidadas here yesterday morning, destroying more than 40 houses and leaving hundreds homeless, Antara reported. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the fires which were concentrated in the densely populated subdistricts of Malabar and Cidurian. Five fire brigades were deployed to put out the fires, but dozens of the houses were gutted.

Danamon posts $57m in profit

Danamon posts $57m in profit JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Danamon has reported an unaudited Rp 154 billion (US$57 million) pre-tax profit for the first half of this year. The bank booked a Rp 281.2 billion net profit in 1996, up 57 percent on the previous year. Danamon president Ninie Admajaya said Saturday his bank would continue to increase its shareholders' value by providing quality services to clients in the all 27 provinces.

Burning issue

Burning issue I have a comment about the forest burning by some irresponsible people in Riau. I was deeply concerned and ashamed when I accompanied my European friend to visit Lake Toba, which was entirely covered with smoke originating from the forest fire. I could not show him the fabulous view of the lake which we are all proud of.

Forensic experts' drug raid role get support

Forensic experts' drug raid role get support JAKARTA (JP): Forensic experts who assisted police in recent drug raids at popular night spots were not acting against the doctors' code of conduct, according to noted expert Mun'im Idris. Mun'im said the presence of forensic personnel was to prevent police officers from arresting the wrong suspects.