There's more than meets the eye to presidential fashion By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): With the APEC summit in Kuala Lumpur upon us, fashion watchers are speculating on what clothes the heads of state/government will wear at the event. In previous summits, the Philippines used the event to promote its traditional white barong, and Indonesia its batik. The Indonesian government assigned famous designer Iwan Tirta to create special batik designs to be worn by the state guests.

Hospital Occupancy Rates, Room Rates and Consultation Fee (in Rp) Room Type MMC Pondok Indah Siloam Glenagles ---------------------------------------------------------------- Suite -- 1,600,000 1,700,000 1,200,000 Executive -- -- 800,000 VVIP 525,000 800,000 450,000 475,000 VIP 375,000 450,000 400,000 400,000 1st Class 250,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 2nd Class 100,000 160,000 135,000 120,000 3rd Class 45,000 45,000 65,000 Critical Care Unit 450,000 -- -- 350,000 High Care Unit 245,000 -- --...

Trie Utami chooses to compromise in her new album By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): The pop music world never lacks female singers, even though many rely on their glitzy appearance and the latest technology to polish up the scuffs and stains on their voices to succeed. However, this is not the case with Trie Utami, 30, who has just released her fourth solo album, Aku Cemburu (I'm Jealous). Trie is a rarity in Indonesian pop music.

MMC Hospital provides top-quality medical care MMC HOSPITAL opened in 1987 as the one and only hospital owned by doctors. Out of 186 shareholders, there are 172 doctors who hold more than 90 percent of the capital. Its management system is under the constant supervision of the medical profession, maintaining a high standard of medical ethics and professionalism. MMC's medical profile consists of 248 specialists.

Islam in sociopolitical struggles Dialog Keterbukaan, Artikulasi Nilai Islam dalam Wacana Social Politik Kontemporer (Dialog of Openness, Articulation of Islamic Values in Contemporary Sociopolitical Discourses); Dr. Nurcholish Madjid; Foreword by Fachry Ali; Yayasan Wakaf Paramadina, Jakarta, January 1998; viii + 366 pages Theologically, Islam is a divine, and therefore, at the same time transcendent, system of values and teaching.

Balinese women make a good living from selling hair Text and photos by PJ Leo DENPASAR (JP): Going bald can be a serious problem for men and women. It is this issue which inspired Anak Agung Oka Kartini to start a company in Bali which produces wigs. Kartini, 55, owner of Oka Kartini Art Gallery and Bungalows, Ubud, established PT Rambut Indah with Theo Zantman from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The company now employs 200 workers, all women. It produces wigs priced up to US$1,000.

For the Sake of Rice By Sartono Kusumaningrat Kuntet was still struggling to earn a living at one of Jakarta's crossroads. He simply ignored the capital's burning heat and the noisy buzzing of the motorized vehicles. He went on singing in his rasping voice, though he only half-remembered the lyrics. His played his home-made musical instrument, a string of pressed bottle caps skewered on a short wooden stick.

Children go to great lengths to stay in school By Agus Maryono PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): A group of teenagers clambers up an almost perpendicular craggy cliff face to the top of the 15-meter-high Gumawang waterfall. Clad only in swimming trunks and without any harness or safety equipment, they brave the famed chilly weather of the Baturaden mountain resort, about 14 kilometers north of here.

Local hospitals must fit the bill for their patients By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo JAKARTA (JP): Before the monetary crisis unfolded, Indonesians, like other citizens of booming Asian countries, experienced an increase in living standards. They not only afford to buy branded goods and vacation overseas, but could also travel abroad for medical checkups. Of course, they had their own reasons to trust foreign health services; after all, why wait in long hospital lines when you could afford not to?

Student finally gather at MPR gates JAKARTA (JP): The area around the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) building became a public gathering site as thousands of people joined students in front of the gates. Starting Saturday morning, following the burial of their colleagues shot on Friday, students held rallies in several areas of the city.

APEC decision seen on Sunday KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): Malaysian Trade Secretary Rafidah Aziz promised Saturday that Pacific Rim ministers will make a decision Sunday on a trade liberalization agreement, despite continuing disagreements over the issue. But she said the ministers spent an afternoon talking about trade facilitation and economic and technology cooperation, leaving discussions of specific steps to solve Asia's financial crisis until Sunday.

'Xanana': E. Timor to become nation without army By Widya Saraswati Jose Alexandre Gusmao, alias Kay Rala "Xanana" Gusmao, is no longer merely a commandant of the armed Falintil vigilantes and a respected Fretilin leader. As of April, he has been president of the Council of National Resistance Timorese (CNRT) which was formed as the result of a long reconciliation process involving various sociopolitical forces in East Timor.

Health insurance a consumer premium during crisis By I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): Thanks to the financial turmoil plaguing the country and chipping away at disposable income, more Indonesians are signing on as health insurance policyholders, going against the popular belief that local awareness of its benefits is low. David R.

Demonstrations spread through the country JAKARTA (JP): Students staged demonstrations in various parts of the country on Saturday to condemn the repressive military action seen on the streets of Jakarta on Friday and to demand the resignation of Armed Forces Commander/Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto. They demanded the Armed Forces (ABRI) expulsion from the House of Representatives and an end to the dual-function which grants it a role in the nation's political affairs.

28 painters display their sketchings in Denpasar By Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The arts of sketching and drawing suddenly received serious attention when 28 painters displayed their works at Gedung Kriya, the Culture Park of Denpasar. Opened on Nov. 1 and running until Nov. 28, the exhibition was initiated by Balinese painter Made Budhiana, 39, a Yogyakarta Art Institute dropout in cooperation with Matahati Group, a cultural working group.

Private hositals try to improve image Many people welcomed the growing number of private hospitals across the city with a hope that their presence would improve medical facilities to enable them to meet increasing public demand for better medical services. But people have started questioning whether they favor the rich and ignore the poor. The Jakarta Post's reporters Stevie Emilia, Ridwan M. Sijabat, Lukman Natanagara, Aloysius Unditu, Johannes Simbolon, Sri Purwati, Yudha Kartohadiprodjo, I.

Tearful farewell for two student victims JAKARTA (JP): The funerals of two of the students shot dead in clashes with police and soldiers were marked by the deep grief shared between members of their families and thousands of fellow students who turned up to pay their last respects on Saturday. The two were among 12 people shot dead during a student demonstration against the four-day Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday.

Many seek Wiranto's resignation JAKARTA (JP): Shock turned to grief, and fear turned to anger. Many people pointed their fingers at Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto as the person most responsible for the Friday the 13th tragedy, or what some people call Black Friday.

Upscale hospitals are not for everybody's cup of tea JAKARTA (JP): Staying healthy is the wish of all of us, but there are inevitable times when we have to see a doctor or visit the hospital. Among its array of medical services, Jakarta boasts upscale hospitals with luxury facilities and sophisticated medical equipment. Their reputation and relatively high fees are not for everybody. Several Jakartans shared their views on upscale hospitals with The Jakarta Post.

Boat sinks in SE Sulawesi UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Forty six people were feared drowned after a boat sunk near Lambasina island in Southeast Sulawesi on Friday night. The vessel, Rahmat Buhari, was on the way from Bone regency to Kolaka regency with 122 passengers and a crew of 17 on board when it sunk. Search and rescue teams saved 93 people, with the rest unaccounted for. The vessel was reportedly carrying nine trucks and six cars. It was licensed to carry 300 people and 15 trucks.

Jakarta haunted by return of riots JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta lurched to the brink of a citywide riot on Saturday as sporadic outbreaks of looting sprung up in various parts of the city. The worst hit areas were Senen and Sawah Besar in Central Jakarta, where about a dozen shops and banks were looted, torched or pelted with stones. Dozens of vehicles were also burnt. In some locations, order appeared to break down completely, with cars being stopped arbitrarily and their occupants robbed.

Shock, Grief and Anger Photo A/B/C/D: Unrest JP/P.J. Leo, JP/Alex Lumi, JP/IGGP Bayu Ismoyo, JP/Mulkan Salmona A NATION IN CRISIS: Students confront troops during a standoff outside Atma Jaya University in the early hours of Saturday (left above photo). President B.J. Habibie convenes a meeting with religious and public figures at the Merdeka Palace to discuss the crisis (right above photo).

Habibie commands Wiranto to be firm JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie asked Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief/Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto on Saturday to take whatever actions necessary to deal with what he called acts of rebellion to bring down his government. "I have given instructions (for him) to take firm actions in line with the existing law," Habibie said in a televised address, broadcast as riots broke out in Jakarta and several other towns.

Soeharto blames govt handling of students JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto has criticized the government's handling of students that led to bloodshed on Friday, according to his half-brother Probosutedjo. "The reason why I resigned in the first place was to avoid bloodshed. Why should this happen now?" Soeharto was quoted as saying by the businessman, who related the views in an interview with Antara on Saturday.

World Diabetes Day to promote patients' rights By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): The country's once blooming economy turned out sour: higher incomes have led to unhealthy diets and a sedentary lifestyle that cause the incurable but treatable disease, diabetes. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, around five million Indonesians, mostly between 35 and 50 years old, are suffering from diabetes.

Two opposition figures arrested JAKARTA (JP): The police have detained two opposition figures -- Hariadi Darmawan and Roch Basoeki Mangoenpoerojo -- and have reportedly targeted two more. Bambang Widjojanto from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation told reporters here yesterday that Hariadi, who chairs the Association of University of Indonesia Alumnae and initiated the National Reform Movement, had been questioned for 13.5 hours beginning at midnight on Friday.

Local upmarket hospitals lure the rich to seek treatment By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Fierce competition leading to an improvement in the health services on offer has resulted since the government opened the door to joint-venture hospitals run in cooperation with foreign investors in 1990. The regulation has led to a wider range of treatments being made available to those who can afford to pay.

'Lost in Space': Old values in futuristic situation By Lilia Syarif Naga JAKARTA (JP): Oct. 1, 2058 is only 60 years away, and do we really need a new planet to live on so soon? Yes, Stephen Hopkins and Akiva Goldsman insist. New Line Cinema, seemingly like other studios has jumped into futuristic film setting fever, but with one good selling point; the film was made for all ages. Lost in Space is fully digestible for kiddies, teens, and even old folk.

Spotlight Photo A: McDonalds McDonald's Indonesia FREE GIFTS: Students from Kelapa Dua Wetan primary school in East Jakarta pose after receiving free gifts from McDonald's Indonesia. The gifts, delivered on Nov. 3, were given to the top five students in each class as part of McDonald's commitment to motivate students to keep studying.

Guess What? Environmentalist-singer Ully Sigar Rusady shed tears during an environmental workshop in Bandar Lampung last weekend. "I couldn't help crying. I was unaware that tears rolled down my face when I was at my seat back there. I was so touched I was speechless," she told participants of the workshop. Ully, chairwoman of the youth foundation Yayasan Garda Rumpun Pemuda, was an ambassador of the United Nations Environment Program and is the sister of artist Pramitha Rusady.