Archive: 19 January 1998
50 articles found
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Some expats cry foul over loss of their jobs
Some expats cry foul over loss of their jobs By Eileen McBride JAKARTA (JP): Mark Jones returned from his Christmas vacation two weeks ago to find he had no car. A director of an international fast food company, he arrived in Jakarta a year ago on a two-year contract with the local company. But last November, Jones (a pseudonym) returned from overseas meetings to find he had no office. He now works from home.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Let the rich help out now
Let the rich help out now From Merdeka U.S. dollar owners, people who follow the rate of exchange between the dollar against the rupiah, and the government are eager every day to know the latest rupiah/dollar exchange rate. The Indonesian government has set the official exchange rate at Rp 4,000 per dollar, but in reality the exchange rate is over Rp 8,000 per dollar. President Soeharto's appeal to Indonesians to have faith in the rupiah has not been heeded by dollar lovers.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
SilkAir crash victims to be buried today
SilkAir crash victims to be buried today JAKARTA (JP): The remains of 101 victims of the SilkAir Boeing 737-300 which plunged into the Musi River, South Sumatra, last month will be given a mass burial in the provincial capital of Palembang today. The commander of the Palembang Air Force Base, Lt. Col. Yanuwardi told The Jakarta Post by telephone yesterday that preparations have been completed at the site in Kebun Bunga district.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hartono sets pace in race for VP: Analyst
Hartono sets pace in race for VP: Analyst JAKARTA (JP): With incumbent President Soeharto looking set to stay in power, Minister of Information R. Hartono has the greatest chance to fill the vice presidential seat, a political analyst believes.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
USDA sees recovery in Asian farm demand
USDA sees recovery in Asian farm demand SINGAPORE (Reuters): The USDA's General Sales Manager Chris Goldthwait said farm imports by Southeast Asian countries and South Korea were expected to drop sharply short-term, but a fairly quick recovery was likely in demand for staple commodities such as wheat, corn and soybeans. "There is going to be a fall of considerable proportions on at least a short-term basis as currencies fall and liquidity tightens," Goldthwait told Reuters in an interview.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. gives seeds to Irian Jaya
U.S. gives seeds to Irian Jaya WAMENA, Irian Jaya: The United States has donated 76,203 tons of crop seeds to the drought-hit regency of Jayawijaya in Irian Jaya. Antara reported Thursday that the donation -- which includes the hybrid corn, red bean, potato, and carrot seed -- was handed over here to Regent J.B. Wenas by the director of the United States Agency for International Development, Vivikka Molldrem.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina denies fuel import snags
Pertamina denies fuel import snags JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has denied it is facing cash-flow problems to import fuel amid the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. "There is no such cash-flow problem. We still have sufficient stocks of fuel in the country until March," company president Soegianto said Friday at a breaking of the fast gathering at the company's headquarters.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Entering the free trade era
Entering the free trade era Indonesians, as members of a pluralistic society, may or may not agree with the International Monetary Fund's reform package. We are being forced to open ourselves widely to competition from other nations when we are still scarcely prepared in terms of legal framework and infrastructure. Some of us believe we are being forced to compete without any mental preparation whatsoever.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ginandjar Kartasasmita cautious on VP nomination
Ginandjar Kartasasmita cautious on VP nomination JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita has given a cautious response to calls for him to be put forward as a vice presidential candidate by SOKSI, a labor organization affiliated to the dominant Golkar. "If anyone thinks I should be considered as vice president, that's an honor... If anyone thinks I deserve to be considered, I am happy and honored.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Newsprint price shrinks daily
Newsprint price shrinks daily DILI, East Timor: The monetary crisis and the resulting soaring price of newsprint has forced the local Suara Timor Timur daily to suspend publication temporarily. The daily will not appear from Jan. 27 until Feb. 2, when it will change the regularity of its publication. General Manager Salvador JX Soares said yesterday the newspaper would reappear on five days a week instead of six days a week.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt denies IMF dictated reform package content
Govt denies IMF dictated reform package content JAKARTA (JP): The government has denied accusations that it allowed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to dictate the content of last week's economic reforms in return for the US$43 billion international rescue package.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Poultry ban for 6 months
Poultry ban for 6 months JAKARTA (JP): The ministry of agriculture said here Saturday that a ban on poultry imports, particularly from Hong Kong and mainland China, introduced on Jan. 1 would continue for six months. Head of the ministry's public relations department Darman B. Hasibuan said the ban was aimed at preventing an outbreak of the deadly bird flu which has killed several people in Hong Kong and triggered fears of a worldwide epidemic.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta 'to be raided' by vagrants, beggars
Jakarta 'to be raided' by vagrants, beggars JAKARTA (JP): The capital city will likely be "raided" by thousands of vagrants and beggars during the Idul Fitri festive season, an official said over the weekend. Toha Reno, head of the city public order and entertainment division, told The Jakarta Post the number of such people entering Jakarta had substantially increased since October as the prolonged dry season hurt most villages throughout Java.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Medco Energi basks in optimism despite crisis
Medco Energi basks in optimism despite crisis By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): The country's biggest private oil and gas company, Medco Energi Corporation, is optimistic about 1998 after making some impressive achievements last year amid the monetary crisis. The company's subsidiary, PT Exspan Sumatra, surprised the country's oil industry when it announced in December that it had discovered oil reserves of approximately 350 million barrels in its Kaji and Semoga fields of South Sumatra.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 Cartoon Film: The Big Valley 3:10 TV Drama: Saat-Saat Bersama 3:35 Religious Teachings: Buddha 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Tepat Guna 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 TV Drama: Sebagai Pembeda 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Variety Show: Pelangi 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Development Program: Lemhanas 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Music: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30...
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Malaysian bankruptcies surge 14-fold
Malaysian bankruptcies surge 14-fold KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's economic crisis prompted a 14- fold surge in bankruptcies to 6,578 in the first 11 months of 1997, up from 439 for the same period a year earlier, a report said yesterday. Public trustee officer Idris Othman was quoted as saying that most cases occurred during August, October and November involving 708, 748 and 707 cases respectively.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
KL to cull foreign workers in fishing
KL to cull foreign workers in fishing KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Intensifying Malaysia's crackdown on foreign workers, the Terengganu State Fisheries Department said yesterday it will reduce the number of foreigners working on deep-sea fishing boats. Director Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the majority of the 2,300 foreigners employed on the state's fishing boats were Thai nationals. He did not say how many workers would be dismissed.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
GRORTT seeks UN mediation
GRORTT seeks UN mediation MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: A newly formed group calling itself the Movement for East Timorese Unity and Reconciliation (GRORTT) has sent a letter to the United Nations demanding an independent team be sent to judge whether it is "antiintegration" as local officials allege. Members of the group also refused to be questioned by the police or the East Timor District Court. The letter, dated Jan.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Merpati hopes to earn Rp 40.5b profit in 1998
Merpati hopes to earn Rp 40.5b profit in 1998 JAKARTA (JP): State-owned air carrier Merpati Nusantara Airlines, which has suffered financial problems for several years, expects to post a Rp 40.5 billion (US$5.1 million) profit this year. Merpati President Budiarto was quoted by Antara as saying Saturday that Merpati was optimistic about achieving its target despite gloomy prospects in the air transportation business.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: 100 old photos from Indonesia and Singapore, at Galeri TC (Twilight Cafe), Jl. Kemang Raya No.24A South Jakarta, Sunday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., until Jan. 29. * Painting Exhibition: From Mooi Indi to Persagi, at Museum Seni Rupa Jakarta, Jl. Taman Fatahilah, West Jakarta, on Tuesday to Friday, Sunday at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., until Jan. 26.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Extorters of ATM users arrested
Extorters of ATM users arrested JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta police have busted three members of a gang thought to have waged a year-long campaign against automatic teller machine (ATM) users. One of the three suspects was shot in the leg while trying to flee and the fourth is still at large as he escaped the Friday night raid, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Saturday. "We have been looking for this group of four for at least a year.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Administration prepared for Idul Fitry exodus
Administration prepared for Idul Fitry exodus JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency is organizing 13,685 personnel to ensure safe passage for Jakartans in the massive exodus to hometowns for the Idul Fitri holidays. Head of traffic supervision, Oriyanto, said Saturday these officers were from the agency, state-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja, the Ministry of Public Works and the police.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Succession and stability key issues for Indonesia
Succession and stability key issues for Indonesia HONG KONG (Reuters): President Soeharto's rule over Indonesia, a guarantee of stability for more than three decades, is increasingly being viewed as part of the economy's problem rather than the solution, analysts here said. In the wake of the country's near economic collapse, the lack of a successor to the 76-year-old patriarch and concern over whether he will go quietly when the time comes are worrying Jakarta markets like never before.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ulemas pray for Soeharto
Ulemas pray for Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 ulemas of the influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization gathered here Saturday to pray for President Soeharto's health and reelection in March. The ulemas, among whom were heads of some of the NU's 6,000 boarding schools which teach millions of students, also prayed for an immediate recovery for the Indonesian economy. The prayer session was held at the Assiddiqiyah Pondok Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Kedoya, West Jakarta.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
CMNP put on rating alert
CMNP put on rating alert JAKARTA (JP): The country's only rating agency, PT Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia (Pefindo), said Saturday it had put PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada's (CMNP) Rp 275 billion bonds and Rp 100 billion commercial paper on rating alert. Pefindo also put AA- and A2 rating for the toll roads operator's bonds and commercial paper with negative implications. The agency said the rating was based on CMNP's increasing exposure to the foreign exchange, especially the U.S. dollar.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Alleged drug vendors arrested
Alleged drug vendors arrested JAKARTA (JP): Police have apprehended two alleged major Ecstasy dealers in separate raids in North and West Jakarta. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang yesterday that the first one, Sutsan, 29, is thought to be one of the city's main Ecstasy distributors. He was arrested Saturday night at his house on Jl. Pademangan II in North Jakarta with 20,230 Ecstasy pills in his possession, the officer said.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Taiwan to provide $1b
Taiwan to provide $1b TAIPEI (AFP): Taiwan is willing to provide US$1 billion to a proposed fund under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help countries hit by the regional financial crisis, a news report said Saturday. Taiwan's central bank deputy governor Liang Cheng-chin, who is visiting Kuala Lumpur, told the United Daily News that Taipei has proposed to set up a fund of $50 to $100 billion under the ADB with Taiwan chipping in $1 billion.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Five private banks to merge
Five private banks to merge JAKARTA (JP): Five private banks are to be merged as soon as government and shareholder permission has been obtained, the president director of PT Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) announced last night. In a press release sent to The Jakarta Post, Indra Widjaja said BII and PT Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding Saturday to combine their operations into one entity. The release was signed by Indra Widjaja.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto's reforms
Soeharto's reforms The most outstanding feature of last week's economic reform package was not the content -- however drastic or sweeping it was -- but the way it was announced. No less than President Soeharto personally signed and delivered the letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund, and then went on to explain the grounds for these reforms, their outlines and consequences for the nation.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt weighs options for cutting fuel subsidy
Govt weighs options for cutting fuel subsidy JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Mines and Energy has prepared several alternative schemes for President Soeharto to choose in reducing the subsidy on domestic fuel sales, its secretary- general has said. Darmoko Slamet refused to reveal the schemes, but said Friday that one was an automatic fuel price adjustment similar to the scheme applied for electricity.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV report sparks panic, hardship
TV report sparks panic, hardship From Republika A private television station aired on Jan. 8 a scene showing customers in Jakarta jostling each other to buy canned milk powder. The store owner was forced to limit purchases to three cans of milk powder per customer. Watching this, my wife became very worried. We have five small children who still drink milk of a certain brand.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Turkey's Islamists fall to army-led campaign
Turkey's Islamists fall to army-led campaign By Jonathan Lyons ISTANBUL (Reuters): A Turkish court decision last Friday to outlaw the Welfare Party marks the final blow in a year-long battle led by the country's fiercely secularist generals to crush the forces of political Islam. Five months after Turkey's chief prosecutor first demanded the Islam-based party be banned for undermining the official secular order, the head of the constitutional court slammed the door on the Welfare era.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Turkey's Demirel defends closure of Welfare party
Turkey's Demirel defends closure of Welfare party ANKARA (Reuters): Turkey's president has defended the closure of the Islam-based Welfare party as a regrettable necessity, and the prosecutor in the case says he is ready to do the same to any other party that violates the secular code. "It is impossible...not to feel sorrow at the closure of Welfare," Anatolian news agency quoted President Suleyman Demirel as saying late on Saturday.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Reform may discourage newcomers in car industry
Reform may discourage newcomers in car industry JAKARTA (JP): The government's plan to remove tax incentives for locally made cars as part of its economic reform will discourage newcomers in the country's automotive industry, a car analyst has said. Suhari Sargo said Friday there would be no point for car companies to develop an automotive industry here without such government help.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia must heed global market wishes, says Emil
Indonesia must heed global market wishes, says Emil JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has to keep up with what the global market expects from the country if it wants to get global investors' support for its economic reforms, a senior economist and former cabinet minister has said. Emil Salim said over the weekend that Indonesia had become a part of the global society when it adopted a strict economic reform package set out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "We have joined the global arena.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI needs deposit insurance system
RI needs deposit insurance system By Sumitro The government has pledged not to liquidate any more banks and when announcing the new economic measure last Thursday President Soeharto said that the government will set up a deposit insurance scheme if necessary. The following article deals with this topic deriving from the American experience. This is the first of two articles.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mystery boats fish in Sulawesi
Mystery boats fish in Sulawesi KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Local fishermen have complained that large, illegal trawling nets are being used by many "mysterious" fishing boats in the province's waters, Antara reported Friday. "We've seen them using the large trawling nets but we haven't dared stop them. We just hope the authorities will stop them," fisherman Anto said.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
New Pentium MMX processors and economic printing mode
New Pentium MMX processors and economic printing mode By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Unwittingly, I left you with yet another puzzle last week. A friend from Surabaya, Doug Boyne, faxed me and reminded me that I had inadvertently failed to explain how I got the memory address 000CC000-000CCIFF that suddenly jump-started SNI's SCENIC Multimedia eXtension Board. Actually, in my first report I did tell you that I spent hours trying to find the right memory address.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
JSX stock trading may keep lethargic
JSX stock trading may keep lethargic JAKARTA (JP): Trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) is expected to stay in a slumber this week as investors continue to take a wait-and-see attitude. Securities dealers and analysts said most investors were still awaiting implementation of the bold reforms announced by President Soeharto Thursday. "This will certainly make stock trading less active," said one analyst.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police officers to learn in Berlin
Police officers to learn in Berlin JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to send 10 middle-ranking police officers on a detective and riot-control course held by the Germany police in Berlin later this year. National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bactiar said in a press release yesterday that the Indonesians' participation was part of the cooperation pact between the two countries' police forces agreed Friday during an honorary visit of German Minister of Home Affairs, Lt. Gen.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Reform measures need to address main problem
Reform measures need to address main problem The government last Thursday announced its second massive reform measures recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Subroto, a former minister of mines and energy and former secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), who is now rector of Pancasila University in Jakarta, discusses the impact of the reform measures.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Workers' wage payments 'need supervision'
Workers' wage payments 'need supervision' JAKARTA (JP): City councilors have urged the municipality to prevent chaos by tightly controlling and supervising wage payments to laborers involved in the city's labor-intensive program. Soeparmo, head of Commission E for welfare affairs, said over the weekend the program was meant to provide temporary assistance to workers who had been recently dismissed as a direct impact of the monetary crisis.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Now is not the time for political reform, says Sarwono
Now is not the time for political reform, says Sarwono BANDUNG (JP): Calls for political reform, coming as they are in the middle of Indonesia's struggle to restore the nation's economic life, are inappropriate, an official says.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
IPTN will survive state funding cuts
IPTN will survive state funding cuts JAKARTA (JP): State aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN says it will survive a government decision to cut its funding as part of an economic reform package. PT IPTN President B.J. Habibie said the company's activities would be unaffected because it was already self-sufficient. "It's no problem really," Habibie, who is also State Minister of Research and Technology, was quoted by Antara as saying Saturday.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
RP officials counting on Marcos' money
RP officials counting on Marcos' money MANILA (Agencies): Philippine officials are pinning their hopes of boosting the budget and the embattled peso on income linked to millions of ill-gotten dollars of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, sources here said yesterday. The expected transfer of some US$420 million in Swiss bank deposits will make up an "extraordinary income of the national government," sources from the Finance Department said.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
People snap up cloth for Idul Fitri
People snap up cloth for Idul Fitri JAKARTA (JP): In the midst of the country's economic woes due to the weakened local currency, many Jakartans were still flocking to stores over the weekend to buy up new cloth for Idul Fitri which is two weeks away. Shoppers, most of whom were in the low-income group, told The Jakarta Post that they would continue the tradition of wearing new clothes at Idul Fitri even though they were facing financial problems. "(Monetary) crisis is crisis.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Government urged to rescue ailing property sector
Government urged to rescue ailing property sector JAKARTA (JP): The government must take concrete action to restore the country's ailing property sector, an analyst has said. Panangian Simanungkalit, chairman of the Center for Indonesian Property Studies, said Saturday the government should, for example, establish a land bank institution to buy land owned by ailing property developers.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Expert wants environment atop development agenda
Expert wants environment atop development agenda By Joko Sarwono BOGOR, West Java (JP): "Get rich dirty, clean up later" was a development paradigm once employed by the United States, some European countries and Japan. Although no longer applicable for those nations, Indonesia unfortunately still uses it, an environmental expert says.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. trade, investment mission comes to Jakarta
U.S. trade, investment mission comes to Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of American companies arrived here yesterday for a three-day mission to help build confidence in Indonesia's battered economy. The mission, organized by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, will also visit Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila to consult with officials and private sector colleagues on the region's economic troubles. "The mission is intended to build confidence and determine areas where the U.S.
Mon, 19 Jan 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ramadhan time for Jakarta
Ramadhan time for Jakarta Monday Maghrib 6:18 p.m. Tuesday Imsak 4:20 a.m. Subuh 4:30 a.m.