Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 December 1998

60 articles found

Nokia expects bullish market in 1999

Nokia expects bullish market in 1999 JAKARTA (JP): Finland-based mobile phone producer Nokia is bullish about the Indonesian cellular market's prospects next year because it expects the country's economy to start recovering.

Hun Sen hopes for full ASEAN admission soon

Hun Sen hopes for full ASEAN admission soon HANOI (AFP): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hopes his country can be admitted into ASEAN soon, comparing the process to a wedding ceremony for a registered marriage, an official army newspaper said here on Thursday.

Can television help to revive local films?

Can television help to revive local films?By Antariksawan Jusuf JAKARTA (JP): The third annual French Movie Festival in Jakarta ended two weeks ago, but the impact remains. There are a lot of things Indonesian movie makers can learn from their French counterparts to help bring about "the...

WB delays additional $1 billion loan to RI

WB delays additional $1 billion loan to RI JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank has decided not to go ahead with plans to provide Indonesia with an additional US$1 billion loan in this fiscal year due to a narrowing of the country's budget deficit.

Indonesia's minorities

Indonesia's minorities Once again the Christians of the world, and with them many others, are about to celebrate Christmas, also known as the feast of peace.Peace, unfortunately, is something that cannot be found in too many places on earth.

S'pore, KL work to end water rift

S'pore, KL work to end water rift HANOI (AP): Malaysia and Singapore said on Thursday they had agreed to link an extension of their water-supply deal with other issues.Singapore, an island state, relies on Malaysia for water.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Dec. 17, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 500 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 0 94,000 Alumindo Light Metal 350 0 122,500 Alumindo Perkasa...

Drug knowledge lacking among Indonesian public

Drug knowledge lacking among Indonesian public Unfortunately, an apple a day is often not enough to keep the doctor away when illness cramps your style.Many Indonesians choose to resort to traditional medicine for what ails them, and the herbal concoctions may indeed do the trick for more common...

Testing time again for rupiah, local stocks down 1.7 percent

Testing time again for rupiah, local stocks down 1.7 percent JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah wavered on Thursday to close at 7,800 against the U.S. dollar from the previous day's Rp 7,600, partly due to a resurgence in speculative trading, analysts said.Local stocks also lost ground to end 1.

Hapless house buyers want down payment

Hapless house buyers want down payment JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of customers of Bumi Indah housing complex in Tangerang intensified their struggle on Thursday to regain the down payments of between Rp 5 million (US$666) and Rp 8 million they paid to the site's developer.

Many S. African buyers switch into RI market

Many S. African buyers switch into RI market JAKARTA (JP): Local firms can capitalize from the many South African importers switching their focus here in the wake of the rupiah's dramatic depreciation, the country's envoy said on Thursday.The South African ambassador B.S.

WB sees RI's debt service ratio level still manageable

WB sees RI's debt service ratio level still manageable JAKARTA (JP): World Bank country director Dennis de Tray said on Thursday that Indonesia's nearly 50 percent debt service ratio in the current 1998/1999 fiscal year was still manageable, although it had risen to an alarming level.

BPN to help farmers settle land dispute

BPN to help farmers settle land dispute JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Agrarian Affairs/Chairman of the National Land Agency (BPN) Hasan Basri Durin promised on Wednesday to help settle a land dispute between residents of Malasari village in Bogor and farming company PT Nirmala Agung.

Year's drama in photo display

Year's drama in photo display JAKARTA (JP): Forty works by photojournalists showcasing the country's most dramatic moments of the year -- starting from the resignation of Soeharto to the fatal shooting at Semanggi cloverleaf -- will go on display at Antara Press Photo Gallery beginning Friday.

Steps to protect workers 'slow compared to promotion'

Steps to protect workers 'slow compared to promotion' JAKARTA (JP): The government's schedule for ratifying international conventions, including those on the protection of migrant workers, over the next few years was too slow compared to the aggressive promotion of the use of Indonesian workers...

Be wary of reform distractions: Arbi

Be wary of reform distractions: Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Superfluous issues thrown out to knock the reform movement off track can only be overcome through cooperation between campuses, political parties and the public, a political expert said on Thursday.

Pharmaceutical firms set to compete

Pharmaceutical firms set to competeDIRECTOR GENERAL OF FOOD AND DRUG SUPERVISION DR. H. SAMPOERNO, MBA The Directorate General of Food and Drug Supervision (DITJEN POM) is invested with a mission to protect the health of the general public and enhance the quality and image of...

Redistribute assets lawfully to avoid suspicion: Kadin

Redistribute assets lawfully to avoid suspicion: Kadin JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) called on the government on Thursday to pursue legitimate ways to redistribute productive assets to avoid suspicion among foreign investors.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Dec. 17,1998: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,675.00 7,875.00 7,675.00 7,925.00Austrian schilling 1 616.40 686.40 - -Australian dollar 1 4,688.50 4,948.50 4,705.00 5,055.00Belgian franc 1 206.75 231.

Habibie seeks review of forestry policies

Habibie seeks review of forestry policies JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie on Thursday sought a review of government policies on the exploitation of forests, which he said had so far benefited only certain groups.

Novartis at vanguard in raising public awareness

Novartis at vanguard in raising public awarenessNOVARTIS Pharmaceuticals have not been spared by the economic crisis.Robby Tiowidjaja, Sales and Marketing Director of Novartis, a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical firm, agreed that the effects were hard-felt because most prices of drug supplies and...

IMF sees worst over for Thailand and South Korea

IMF sees worst over for Thailand and South Korea WASHINGTON (Reuters): The worst is over for Thailand and South Korea after last year's economic crises and Indonesia should soon follow them on the path back toward growth, a senior IMF official said on Wednesday.

Veteran Yayuk courts triumph in twilight on tennis curcuit

Veteran Yayuk courts triumph in twilight on tennis curcuit BANGKOK (JP): It is always every athlete's dream to end their career on a high note, let alone with laurels that confirm their illustriousness.

Three held in Medan labor protests

Three held in Medan labor protests MEDAN (JP): Police fired warning shots on Thursday and arrested three people in a day of protests involving land tillers and plantation workers.Early in the day about 2,500 workers of PT Perkebunan Nusantara II Tanjung Morawa in Deli Serdang rallied at the North...

Losing money

Losing money Customers of Bank Dagang Negara (BDN), like myself, stand to lose vast amounts of money through fraud that seems to be taking place at the bank.Here is my story.On Dec. 10, 1998 at 11:30 a.m.

City chiefs rapped for pussyfooting on official graft

City chiefs rapped for pussyfooting on official graft JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta City Council criticized the administration on Thursday for its reluctance to thoroughly publicize malfeasance committed by officials.

Bank Exim gets penalty

Bank Exim gets penalty WASHINGTON (Dow Jones): The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it had issued $100,000 in monetary penalties against an Indonesian bank and its New York agency.The Fed said it issued the penalty against Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia (Bank Exim) of Jakarta in connection with...

Guan's big leap takes China to magic 100

Guan's big leap takes China to magic 100 BANGKOK (AFP): Long jumper Guan Yingnan took China to a century of gold medals at the Bangkok Asian Games on Thursday -- but her team's accusations of attempted bribery cast a dark cloud over celebrations.

PT Kimia Farma provides reputable services and products

PT Kimia Farma provides reputable services and productsPT (PERSERO) KIMIA FARMA Kimia Farma began in 1817 as a Dutch company called NV Chemicalien Handel Rathkamp & Co. After various name changes and the Indonesian government's nationalization of all Dutch pharmaceutical companies in 1958, it...

New security team for illegal rally

New security team for illegal rally JAKARTA (JP): The city security authorities have set up a special 1,000-member task force to maintain the implementation of Law No. 9/1998 on freedom of expression, a police officer said.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

Net forex reserves rise to $14.28b

Net forex reserves rise to $14.28b JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia's (BI) net international reserves rose by US$13.7 million to $14.28 billion in the week ending Dec. 15 from the previous week's $14.27 billion, the central bank announced on Thursday.

Industry to be foward-looking to compete

Industry to be foward-looking to competeCHAIRMAN OF THE INDONESIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ASSOCIATION ANTHONY CH. SOENARDJO There is no denying the great effect of the crisis upon the development of the national pharmaceutical sector.

Four climbers missing

Four climbers missing PADANG (JP): Rescue workers are still searching for four climbers declared missing on Wednesday while climbing the Merapi mountain in Padangpanjang, 70 kilometers from Padang, West Sumatra.

Infrastructure, services support Enseval's success

Infrastructure, services support Enseval's successPT ENSEVAL PUTERA MEGATRADING Quick distribution of medicine to the public is no easy task. Apart from Indonesia's great geographic expanse, there is also the difficulty of sending goods on time.

Number of haj pilgrims falls by 70%

Number of haj pilgrims falls by 70% JAKARTA (JP): Registrations for the government-organized haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia have plummeted by almost 70 percent this year because of the economic crisis, a report said on Thursday.

Three Korean banks merge

Three Korean banks merge SEOUL (AFP): Three debt-ridden South Korean banks on Thursday announced they would merge to form a new institution boasting US$51 billion in assets and an expected $2 billion in state capitalization.

RP beef up security around U.S. facilities

RP beef up security around U.S. facilities MANILA (AP): Police stepped up security around the U.S. Embassy and other American facilities in the Philippines on Thursday to prevent retaliatory terrorist attacks after Washington ordered missile strikes on Iraq."All U.S.

RI firm seeks arbitration

RI firm seeks arbitration SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Indonesia's Asia Pulp & Paper Co. (APP) has filed a notice of arbitration in Singapore against Beloit Asia Pacific, the company said in a statement released late Wednesday.

Over 2,000 beggars to come to the city

Over 2,000 beggars to come to the city JAKARTA (JP): The number of seasonal beggars flocking to the capital during the Ramadhan fasting month, which will start on Sunday, is projected to remain at about 2,000, an official of the city social service office said on Thursday.H.

PAN to employ big names for campaign

PAN to employ big names for campaign BANDUNG (JP): The National Mandate Party (PAN) is recruiting noted political scientists Ichlasul Amal, Afan Gaffar, Mochtar Mas'ud and Syamsu Rizal Panggabean along with almost 300 other people to campaign for it in the election next June.

Balinese demand Tommy make good on promises

Balinese demand Tommy make good on promisesBy Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Uncertainty shrouds the lives of hundreds of farmers forced to vacate their land for a megaproject under the youngest son of former president Soeharto.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Fine Arts Exhibition: by Gotot Prakosa, at Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3140554), 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 18-28. * Photo Exhibition: Face to Face: Indonesia and Britain, at World Trade Center, Jl. Jend.

Single currency distant prospect for ASEAN states

Single currency distant prospect for ASEAN statesBy Olaf Jahn HONG KONG (DPA): ASEAN, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, is in the throes of a crisis. Its leaders may have smiled brightly at the end of their summit meeting in Hanoi, but smiles could not belie the seriousness of the crisis.

The joy of letter writing

The joy of letter writing There is no doubt about it. Many readers of The Jakarta Post do indeed stop to read the Your Letters column. Even the "not-so- serious" readers, who just browse through the newspaper every morning, apparently take an interest in this column, if a letter is penned by any of...

Strike at Iraq pulls Asian monies

Strike at Iraq pulls Asian monies SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The U.S. strikes against Iraq and the dismal results of the Financial Sector Restructuring Authority auction in Thailand combined to drag Southeast Asian currencies lower against the U.S. dollar during Asian trading hours on Thursday.

Rights body, KWI refuse to join security council

Rights body, KWI refuse to join security council JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights and the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) have refused to join the newly established Council for Enforcement of Security and Law, saying the council's mandate goes beyond their own function.

Government asked to lift gas subsidies for fertilizer plants

Government asked to lift gas subsidies for fertilizer plants JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina has asked the government to allow it to lift subsidies on natural gas supplied to fertilizer plants following the government's recent decision to end subsidies on fertilizers.

DPR empowers itself with subpoena rights

DPR empowers itself with subpoena rights JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday decided to give itself the right to subpoena citizens, including the president, and to impose one year prison sentences on those who fail to meet its summons.

Mar'ie officially queried over Tommy's national car project

Mar'ie officially queried over Tommy's national car project JAKARTA (JP): Former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad was questioned at the Attorney General's Office on Thursday over the national car project of former president Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Blind Susanti navigates city's tests with tenacity

Blind Susanti navigates city's tests with tenacity JAKARTA (JP): Where there's a will, there's a way. That is the adage Susanti lives by as she braves the hard times which have hit the nation's capital.

YLKI cautions against purchasing expired foods

YLKI cautions against purchasing expired foods JAKARTA (JP): In the light of traditions of exchanging gift packages for Christmas and Idul Fitri, the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has reiterated its cautionary warning on the purchasing of foodstuffs, including imported products.

ARCO plans to shed staff for efficiency

ARCO plans to shed staff for efficiency JAKARTA (JP): Atlantic Richfield Indonesia Inc. (ARII), a unit of the giant United States energy company Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) plans to shed employees as part of an efficiency program.

RI regrets air strikes

RI regrets air strikes JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the following statement on Thursday on the Iraqi situation:"The government of Indonesia regrets the use of armed force against Iraq by the United States and Britain in implementing the UN Resolution on Mass Destructive...

Passengers rob taxi drivers in two separate incidents

Passengers rob taxi drivers in two separate incidents JAKARTA (JP): Two taxi drivers were wounded, one severely, in separate robberies in East and South Jakarta over the last two days, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said on Thursday.

Visa introduces its first debit card in Indonesia

Visa introduces its first debit card in Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Visa International introduced its first Visa Electron debit card in Indonesia on Thursday in cooperation with state Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).Executive Vice President of Visa International for Southeast Asia James G.

Soldiers warned to be vigilant against provocation

Soldiers warned to be vigilant against provocation JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie on Thursday warned soldiers that provocation directed at them could be aimed at disrupting national unity.Addressing the graduation of 968 young officers of the Armed Forces Academy's (AKABRI) class of 1998,...

BDN responds

BDN responds In response to our customer's complaint about the loss of some money from a withdrawal from our Wisma Alia branch, we would like to clarify as follows:* On Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998, the customer withdrew Rp 30 million in cash, and the money was received by the customer after the money...

Yayuk nears end of career with Asian Games gold

Yayuk nears end of career with Asian Games goldBy Primastuti Handayani BANGKOK (JP): Indonesian number one Yayuk Basuki closed the penultimate chapter in her career and contributed another gold to her country by making short work of hometown favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn in the women's singles final...

Over 90 injured in student-military clash

Over 90 injured in student-military clash JAKARTA (JP): At least 80 protesting students and 14 security personnel were injured during a serious clash between police and soldiers at a joint rally of some 4,000 students near the House of Representatives building on Thursday.

Ricky and Rexy salvage RI's badminton pride

Ricky and Rexy salvage RI's badminton pride BANGKOK (JP): Olympic badminton men's doubles champions Ricky Ahmad Subagja and Rexy Ronald Mainaky retained their Asian Games crown on Thursday to restore Indonesia's pride after two other gold medals up for grabs slipped through the badminton team's...