Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 5 January 1998

50 articles found

Laid off foreigners may pose problems

Laid off foreigners may pose problems KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation warned yesterday that laying off some one million foreign workers amid the country's economic slowdown could pose social and security problems.

Train collision kills one

Train collision kills one BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Two trains collided head-on Friday in Sulusuhan, Central Lampung, killing one of the locomotive engineers and injuring six passengers.Antara reported that the trains, a passenger train coming from Bandar Lampung and a coal train coming from Tanjung...

Int'l banks ignored forewarning

Int'l banks ignored forewarning ZURICH (Reuters): International banks ignored the warning signs of Southeast Asia's crippling financial crisis during the first half of 1997 and continued to lend money to the region, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said yesterday.

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.

Cracks in the Asian tiger growth model

Cracks in the Asian tiger growth model The financial debacle that continues to hobble Asian economies has revealed cracks in the tiger growth model in the region. As Birman Maharjan writes in this Inter Press Service analysis, will people take heed or will it be business as usual? NEW DELHI: In...

More transparency needed

More transparency needed It is understandable that we should feel annoyed at the slanted information circulated abroad regarding Indonesia's foreign debts. As former coordinating minister for economy and industry Radius Prawiro has said, inaccurate information could easily affect the government's...

50 years later, opposition says Myanmar still not free

50 years later, opposition says Myanmar still not free YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain yesterday amid opposition accusations at home and abroad that there were few freedoms in the country despite 50 years of independence.

Political reforms not for barter: Observers

Political reforms not for barter: Observers JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said over the weekend that there should be no bargaining on the urgency of political reforms in the country.Secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), Adi Sasono, and the University of...

Govt to raise price of generic drugs by 15%

Govt to raise price of generic drugs by 15% JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi has said the government would raise the price of generic drugs by as much as 15 percent after March.The price hike, he said, was necessary because prices of imported raw materials to make the drugs had continued to...

Ibu Tien's grave now a popular landmark

Ibu Tien's grave now a popular landmark JAKARTA (JP): The final resting place of the late First Lady Ibu Tien Soeharto in Central Java has become quite a landmark with a growing number of visitors, particularly during the first week of the Moslem Ramadhan month.

Fire at Bali's Hard Rock Hotel

Fire at Bali's Hard Rock Hotel KUTA, Bali: Police said Saturday that the fire which gutted the newly built Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta early Friday morning was probably caused by a short circuit.The fire shocked local residents and tourists on the beach because they heard a loud explosion.

Train kills couple

Train kills couple JAKARTA (JP): A man and a woman were killed by a speeding train at a train crossing in Rawa Buaya, West Jakarta, Saturday night.The victims were identified as Edy Purnomo, 23, and Mariyani, 17. Both were Rawa Buaya residents.

'Bumiku Satu' teaches environmental lesson

'Bumiku Satu' teaches environmental lesson JAKARTA (JP): Private TV station RCTI begun a four-part educational series, Bumiku Satu (My Only Earth), on the importance of environmental conservation yesterday.Scheduled for broadcast at 4:30 p.m.

Media wages an advertising war

Media wages an advertising warBy Atmakusumah The competitive media environment in Indonesia is strengthening the strong and sidelining the weak. This is the first of two articles. JAKARTA (JP): Television viewers are in for a treat this year.

Don't worry about bird flu: Sujudi

Don't worry about bird flu: Sujudi JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians should not worry about the notorious "bird flu", as the government has taken necessary precautions, such as banning poultry imports from Hong Kong, to avoid the spread of the virus here, a minister has said.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaMondayMaghrib 6.14 p.m.TuesdayImsak 4:11 a.m.Subuh 4.21 a.m.

New food modeled on Indonesian tempe

New food modeled on Indonesian tempe LONDON: A meat substitute made from a grain eaten by the Incas and a 2,000-year-old Indonesian mould is being developed by the European Union.The high-protein rival to tofu, a soya bean curd eaten in the Far East, is being produced by British scientists and...

Minivan driver attacked, robbed

Minivan driver attacked, robbed BOGOR (JP): Patrol police found an injured Angkot (public transportation van) driver tied up beside the Jagorawi toll road on Saturday.A Citeureup police officer said the 20-year-old driver, Afrizal, was the victim of a robbery.

Toyota to close one Thai plant

Toyota to close one Thai plant TOKYO (AFP): Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor Corp. will shut down one of its four plants in Thailand in 1999 in a move to reorganize its manufacturing setup in the country, a business daily said yesterday.

Police must solve Udin murder case, expert says

Police must solve Udin murder case, expert says JAKARTA (JP): Despite the decision of Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, not to sue police, the investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, alias Udin, must continue, a legal expert said here yesterday.

Fireworks sold despite ban

Fireworks sold despite ban JAKARTA (JP): Fireworks are traded openly in Jatinegara market, East Jakarta, despite a municipality ban on the sale of such products.The wide variety of fireworks were being sold by many traders in the area, Antara reported Saturday.

Watch TV as you work on your PC, but don't get carried away

Watch TV as you work on your PC, but don't get carried awayBy Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): As there has never been a dull moment in this country, wouldn't it be nice if we could follow the latest news on TV without having to leave our PC?Well, that's not difficult to do.

SilkAir's cockpit voice recorder found

SilkAir's cockpit voice recorder found JAKARTA (JP): Rescuers have found the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), a crucial part of the black box which could help explain the cause of a SilkAir plane crash on Dec. 19 which killed all 104 on board."At 4:35 p.m.

Fisheries lost $7.3m due to long dry season

Fisheries lost $7.3m due to long dry season JAKARTA (JP): A drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon last year dried up at least 2.77 million hectares of fishery areas, causing an estimated loss of over Rp 44 billion (US$7.3 million), a minister said.

Malaysia denies it's a rebel training ground

Malaysia denies it's a rebel training ground BANGKOK (Agencies): Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has no immediate plans to discuss Moslem guerrilla activity in southern Thailand with neighboring Malaysia, his office said yesterday.

Sumatran tiger caught in a trap

Sumatran tiger caught in a trap BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A wild Sumatran tiger caught in a trap in a protected forest area in West Lampung should be returned to its habitat and not sent to the Indonesian Safari Park, local police said.

Minister warns of religious conflicts

Minister warns of religious conflicts JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said over the weekend that religious diversity had the potential to either enrich spiritual life or become a source of conflict.

Javanese style

Javanese style One day, about 21 years ago, a colleague of mine came to see my boss, a typical Javanese military man, and asked permission to go to Surabaya the next day.Knowing my colleague frequently went to either Jakarta or Surabaya every month, my boss refused the request by saying: "Aren't...

Heavy rains to fall later this month

Heavy rains to fall later this month JAKARTA (JP): The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency forecast Saturday constant rains in the southern part of Indonesia, mainly in Java and South Sumatra, to start falling between the third week of this month and early next month.

Two dead newborns found in S. Jakarta

Two dead newborns found in S. Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): A newborn boy was found dead Saturday in a garbage site on Jl. Gunawarman, Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta.The dead infant, believed to be the first baby dumped this year, was estimated to be only a day old.

PT Pos Indonesia improves services and performance

PT Pos Indonesia improves services and performanceBy I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): State-owned postal service company PT Pos Indonesia has committed to improving its performance and services to anticipate tougher global competition in the 21st century.

Poultry industry teeters as cost of feed rises

Poultry industry teeters as cost of feed rises JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of small poultry businesses are on the brink of bankruptcy due to the skyrocketing prices of feed, an official said Saturday.Sumitro, head of the city's livestock husbandry agency, said that out of 1,453 listed poultry farms --...

Women ask for most divorces

Women ask for most divorces PALU, Central Sulawesi: Almost 70 percent of the 436 divorces handled by the district religious court here last year were filed by women, an official revealed over the weekend.Head of the religious court, Ahmad Dahlan M.S.

348 entertainment venues shut down for breaches

348 entertainment venues shut down for breaches JAKARTA (JP): The municipality sealed 348 entertainment centers last year, including 28 last month, for violating regulations, an official said over the weekend.

Merger another remake for state banks

Merger another remake for state banksBy Devi M. Asmarani JAKARTA (JP): This year's merger of four of the seven state banks into one is yet another makeover in their long history.Since their establishment as Dutch banks, they have metamorphosed several times, taking on roles as specially assigned...

Freeport largest taxpayer

Freeport largest taxpayer Recent media reports in the capital have it that Mr. Amien Rais has said more or less the following about PT Freeport Indonesia:Whereas after Mr. Amien Rais criticized the performance of PT Freeport Indonesia, it is now ranked first as a taxpaying company in Indonesia, a...

Semen Tonasa set to up production

Semen Tonasa set to up production JAKARTA (JP): PT Semen Tonasa, a subsidiary of publicly listed state-owned cement producer PT Semen Gersik, is set to produce 3.34 million tons of cement this year, up from 3.2 million tons in 1997.The company's president, Nizar Dt.

'CNN' defends gasses story

'CNN' defends gasses story We refer to Ambassador Agus Tarmidzi's letter published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 31, 1997, entitled Inaccurate CNN report.I thank for your letter and would like to address your concerns.The report you saw on Dec.

PT Telkom is offering new long-distance rates

PT Telkom is offering new long-distance rates JAKARTA (JP): The government has cut the cost of domestic long-distance calls 10.2 percent to Rp 97 per pulse.The reduced-rate period for domestic long-distance calls, however, will only be 11 hours per day during workdays, state- owned PT Telkom said...

Traffic accidents claim 200 lives

Traffic accidents claim 200 lives KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 200 people died in 353 traffic accidents last year in the province, police have said.Chief of the provincial police, Col. Sawal Hariadi, said over the weekend that negligence was the major reason for many of the accidents, which...

Speculators turn their sights on Europe

Speculators turn their sights on EuropeBy Mark Milner LONDON: Asia's central bankers must be getting fed up with finding their currencies in the speculators' sights. Last Friday, the Malaysian ringgit, the Philippine peso and the Indonesian rupiah were all on the skids again. Not to worry.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 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: Hindu 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Inovatif 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 TV Drama: Penyesalan 6:00 News: Lintasan...

Feedmeal producers ready to help farms

Feedmeal producers ready to help farms JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Feedmeal Producers (GPMT) will supply 750,000 tons of fodder to struggling small and medium poultry farms, a senior official of the Ministry of Agriculture said recently.

Criminologists divided over student brawls

Criminologists divided over student brawls JAKARTA (JP): Two criminologists have voiced contradictory opinions on the trend of student brawls, with one saying the number would rise, while the other said it would decline.

'Ojek' driver severely wounded

'Ojek' driver severely wounded JAKARTA (JP): An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver was badly injured on Friday when he tried, with the help of residents from East Depok, to stop four men from stealing his motorcycle.

Communists, RP to hold next talks

Communists, RP to hold next talks MANILA (AP): Communist rebels want the next phase of their peace talks with the Philippine government to be held in China, the rebels said yesterday.The negotiations, aimed at ending one of the world's longest- running Communist insurgencies, have been proceeding...

Belo urges talks with Timor movement

Belo urges talks with Timor movement MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo in a telephone interview from Dili, East Timor yesterday urged the goverment to hold talks with the newly founded East Timor People's Unity and Reconciliation Movement.

S. Korea to take firm steps against ailing banks

S. Korea to take firm steps against ailing banks SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's two ailing commercial banks, Korea First Bank and Seoulbank, will be auctioned off in February following recapitalization, the finance ministry said Saturday.

Three die after inhaling gas

Three die after inhaling gas TEGAL, Central Java: Three men died Friday in Slarang, Tegal, after inhaling toxic gas emitted from a deep well.While working in his backyard, Warso smelt a foul odor coming from his well. He decided to check by climbing into the well.

Analysts predict higher stack prices at JSX this week

Analysts predict higher stack prices at JSX this week JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week are expected to benefit from the announcement of the state budget and the continued window dressing activities, analysts and stockbrokers said over the weekend.