Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 February 1998

58 articles found

CBS: A cure-all or experiment?

CBS: A cure-all or experiment?By Joe L. Spartz JAKARTA (JP): Whether the proposed currency board system ultimately turns out to be a Damocles sword or a panacea for the ailing rupiah depends on a number of factors and conditions.

Sempati stops flights

Sempati stops flights JAKARTA (JP): Private airline Sempati Air will suspend flights to seven domestic and international destinations starting next month due to the economic crisis.Service will be discontinued temporarily on domestic routes to Ambon, Denpasar, Jayapura, Manado, Surakarta and...

A forgotten disaster

A forgotten disaster Though publicity has been scant, another disaster, not monetary, has struck. This one has nothing to do with the rupiah exchange rate or a crises of confidence. El Nino is the scapegoat for indifference among authorities, an indifference all too common in the forestry business...

Indonesia orders hundreds of diplomats home

Indonesia orders hundreds of diplomats home JAKARTA (JP): The monetary crisis has forced Indonesia to begin calling home at least 200 of its diplomats stationed abroad.Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas confirmed the plan after attending the Third Meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic and...

Forest fires

Forest fires I would like to refer to 'Haze from forest fires blankets areas in Riau', page 2, Feb. 16, 1998.I read The Jakarta Post every day because it is one of the most interesting and most straightforward newspapers of Indonesia.

'Imported food hits local products'

'Imported food hits local products' JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto expressed concern yesterday that the influx of foreign foods was threatening the survival of traditional products which had the potential to penetrate the global market.

Colonel OK'd for vice governorship

Colonel OK'd for vice governorship DILI: Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. has approved Col. Johanes Suryo Prabowo to become the next deputy governor of East Timor, an official said yesterday.Prabowo is set to replace incumbent deputy governor Brig. Gen.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 TV Series: Big Brother Jake 3:10 Indonesian Children 3:35 Talk Show: Kotak Pos 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:10 Film: Road to Avonlea 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI...

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore, as a world poet, was honored with the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, and had great influence in Indonesia, particularly prior to World War II. However, some of his works were published after Indonesia's independence was declared.

City Council okays draft changes to vehicles bylaws

City Council okays draft changes to vehicles bylaws JAKARTA (JP): The City Council approved yesterday the drafts of two city bylaws which will revoke the progressive vehicle taxation system and significantly reduce tax for cars and vehicle ownership transfer.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 17, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 575 0 0 AHAP Insurance 350 0 0 Alter Abadi 575 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 300 -25 250,000 Alumindo...

Telkom prepares facilities for MPR General Session

Telkom prepares facilities for MPR General Session JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Telkom has prepared the connections for two temporary telecommunication centers to support next month's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), an executive said yesterday.Telkom president A.A.

Candidates for No. 2 man

Candidates for No. 2 man After months spent guessing, the nation can now rest assured that Minister of Research and Technology B. J. Habibie will be elected vice president for the next five-year term.His backing by Golkar, a powerful faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), became...

Currencies unmoved by BI governor's exit

Currencies unmoved by BI governor's exit SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies were subdued yesterday as traders mulled the likelihood of Indonesia ploughing ahead with a currency board system despite daily criticism of the proposal.

PLN pays for power at below agreed rates

PLN pays for power at below agreed rates JAKARTA (JP): The state electricity company PLN has continued to buy power from private companies at a rate of Rp 2,450 per dollar despite agreements to pay according to current exchange rates.

Paid-up capital of banks

Paid-up capital of banksFrom Bisnis IndonesiaThe Bank Indonesia governor stated on Feb. 10 that the paid-up capital of banks would be Rp 1 trillion at the end of 1998, Rp 2 trillion at the end of 1999, and Rp 3 trillion at the end of 2003.

IMF 'not against' govt's CBS plan

IMF 'not against' govt's CBS plan JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not entirely against the government's plan to adopt a currency board system (CBS), the fund's liaison official for Indonesia said yesterday.

Cavallo says rupiah debate is damaging

Cavallo says rupiah debate is damaging BUENOS AIRES (Reuters): The public disagreement over Indonesia's plans to set up a currency board is doing little to stabilize the rupiah currency, the architect of Argentina's currency peg, Domingo Cavallo, said Monday.

Stock prices up 3.1% on foreign buying

Stock prices up 3.1% on foreign buying JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) climbed 3.1 percent yesterday on the back of strong foreign buying for certain selected stocks, analysts said.

Indonesia Incorporated: Dream or reality?

Indonesia Incorporated: Dream or reality?By C.J. de Koning This is the first of two articles on the capricious value of the Indonesia's currency. JAKARTA (JP): In the discussions about a desirable rupiah-U.S. dollar exchange rate, nearly all focus is on the price element of the exchange rate.

Low prices squeeze dairy farmers

Low prices squeeze dairy farmersBy M.M.I Ahyani BANDUNG (JP): A five-year-old local boy, when told his parents could no longer afford to buy milk powder for him because its price had soared in the last few weeks, suggested that the family raise a milch cow so he could drink straight from its udder.

Govt to provide incentives to boost textile exports

Govt to provide incentives to boost textile exports JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to provide financial incentives to textile companies to boost their exports.Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo said yesterday the government would provide credit and other financing facilities to...

S'pore parliament focuses on RI

S'pore parliament focuses on RI SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's parliament will focus on Indonesia's economic crisis when it holds a new session this week, the government said in a statement yesterday.

Asian stock markets recover some losses

Asian stock markets recover some losses SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian stocks closed generally higher yesterday, reversing the previous day's losses and surprising some brokers due to continued uncertainty about Indonesia.Singapore's benchmark stock index ended 1.

Economic crisis hits tourism

Economic crisis hits tourism UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: The spiraling economic crisis has hit tourism hard in the popular Tana Toraja regency, an official said yesterday.Tana Toraja regent Tarsis Kodrat said that since the economic crisis began last July, revenue from the tourism sector had...

Educated people leasts confident about govt: Poll

Educated people leasts confident about govt: Poll JAKARTA (JP): The more educated people are, the less confidence they have in the government and other state institutions, a poll concluded yesterday.The survey, conducted by the Center for the Study of Development and Democracy (CESDA), also...

SEA Games puzzle still lingers

SEA Games puzzle still lingers JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hayono Isman has pledged to resolve the controversy over the amount of funds raised through sticker sales for the SEA Games.

Germany is a reliable partner for development and reform

Germany is a reliable partner for development and reformBy Theo Waigel JAKARTA (JP): My visit to Jakarta takes place at a time of great difficulty for Indonesia and for its people. I have come here with a twofold purpose: to make a personal assessment of the state of the economy, and to assure...

Coffee business perks up in Central Aceh

Coffee business perks up in Central AcehBy Saidulkarnain Ishak LHOKSEUMAWE (Antara): While most of the country whimpers and wails about the monetary crisis, Central Aceh's coffee growers have much to smile about.

Crisis could 'lead to widespread strikes'

Crisis could 'lead to widespread strikes' JAKARTA (JP): Unless properly addressed, the current economic crisis could spark widespread strikes that would threaten sociopolitical stability, labor activists warned yesterday.

Team given go ahead to probe sticker system

Team given go ahead to probe sticker system JAKARTA (JP): The city municipality has established a special team to conduct an in-depth study of the proposed sticker system, which is to replace the current three-in-one traffic regulation.Gubernatorial Decree No. 115/1998 dated Feb.

KL and S'pore start anew

KL and S'pore start anew KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia and Singapore sought yesterday to bury old rivalries, agreeing to cooperate in the rescue of the region's reeling economies.Speaking at the end of a visit by Singaporean Premier Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also said that...

Tunky urges PT Timor to review its business

Tunky urges PT Timor to review its business JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo has urged PT Timor Putra Nasional to assess whether its business is still commercially feasible.Tunky said yesterday he has called on the car import company, which until last month had received...

Spotlight

SpotlightPhoto A: MegawatiJP/leoMEET THE AMBASSADOR: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy greets Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party. She held a post Idul Fitri gathering at her residence on Monday last week.

Monsoon forecast to end next month

Monsoon forecast to end next month JAKARTA (JP): The National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has predicted that the rainy season will end next month.The head of the agency, Sri Diharto, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the rainy season would peak this month in Jakarta and most parts of...

English course for Navy officers

English course for Navy officers JAKARTA (JP): Rear Admiral Abu Hanifah Hasanuddin, a personnel affairs assistant to the Navy commander, opened a nine-day English course for 11 of the Navy's high-ranking officers yesterday.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on Feb. 17, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 9,000.00 11,500.00Austrian shilling 1 606.00 899.60Australian dollar 1 5,345.20 7,425.60Belgian franc 1 214.00 295.70Canadian dollar 1 5,559.

Soedradjad market-friendly and consistent

Soedradjad market-friendly and consistent JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor J. Soedradjad Djiwandono suddenly leaves his office as the country's economy is sinking due to the rupiah meltdown.Financial market players have reacted with surprise by President Soeharto's decision to sack Soedradjad...

More newsprint importers sought

More newsprint importers sought YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Newspaper Publishers (SPS) urged the government yesterday to facilitate the importation of newsprint because the current near-monopoly had taken an increasing toll on the press industry.

Five drug dealers arrested for kidnapping

Five drug dealers arrested for kidnapping JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested five alleged drug dealers during a raid on a Central Jakarta house yesterday and rescued a woman who the group are believed to have kidnapped.City police spokesman Lt. Col. E.

Hun Sen accepts Japan's plan on ousted Ranariddh

Hun Sen accepts Japan's plan on ousted Ranariddh PHREK DACH, Cambodia (Reuters): Cambodian leader Hun Sen said yesterday he accepted a Japanese plan for resolving Cambodia's political deadlock, paving the way for the return of the co- premier he ousted last year, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

Kidney patients worried

Kidney patients worried UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Hundreds of local patients with kidney failure are in great danger because of the soaring cost of medical treatment, relatives said.They said that the price for dialysis had skyrocketed to between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1 million (US$67 to $111)...

Man gets 6 months for pot possession

Man gets 6 months for pot possession BOGOR (JP): The Bogor District Court sentenced Endah, alias Sapri, to six months in jail yesterday for possession of three marijuana cigarettes.Prosecutor Lukman said the 24-year-old defendant was guilty of violating Article 85 of Law No.

Pawnshops doing big business as public seeks quick cash

Pawnshops doing big business as public seeks quick cash JAKARTA (JP): With no money to buy basic commodities and pay day still a week away, Tuti was at her wit's end.How could she get her hands on some cash? Go to the bank? Swallow her pride and borrow from a friend or relative?Instead, she chose...

Habibie only needs Armed Forces' nod

Habibie only needs Armed Forces' nod JAKARTA (JP): B.J. Habibie only needs the Armed Forces' nod to make his vice presidential nomination a forgone conclusion after the country's 27 governors lined up behind him yesterday.

Dairy buys stake in Hero

Dairy buys stake in Hero LONDON (Reuters): Trade and retail group Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd said yesterday it was paying $36.4 million for a stake in Indonesia's PT Hero super market chain.Dairy Farm, partially owned by Hong Kong's Jardine Matheson Holdings, said it had bought a bond...

Timber companies to be reduced to 50 by 2003

Timber companies to be reduced to 50 by 2003 JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to consolidate the timber industry by reducing the number of forest concession holders from 437 to 50 within the next five years to boost efficiency, a minister said yesterday.

Crime and corruption as forms of business

Crime and corruption as forms of businessBy Mochtar Buchori JAKARTA (JP): It has been said that among gangsters, killing is just "business". It is something that has to be done for survival. As such, it should be done efficiently. A true gangster never kills in anger.

Driver strike hits Pandeglang

Driver strike hits Pandeglang PANDEGLANG, West Java: Dozens of buses were mobilized from government offices yesterday to ferry passengers left stranded by a massive strike by city bus drivers.Students and workers were those most affected by the strike organized to protest the dramatic rise in...

BI governor Soedradjad replaced

BI governor Soedradjad replaced JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has removed Soedradjad Djiwandono from his post as central bank governor and appointed Sjahril Sabirin, a long time Bank Indonesia career officer, in his place, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.

Pakistani jailed in heroin case

Pakistani jailed in heroin case JAKARTA (JP): A Pakistani man was sentenced yesterday to eight and a half months in jail and fined Rp 500,000 for being an accessory to an illegal drug transaction.Central Jakarta District Court presiding judge Suyatno said Ali Liquat, 35, knew of the transaction of...

Monetary reform could pay divident

Monetary reform could pay dividentBy Peter Duncan JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is about to embark on the most far- reaching monetary reform of its half century of existence as an independent nation. It is being discouraged from taking this step by an impressive array of conventional banking and business...

Uzbekistan works with Ukraine

Uzbekistan works with Ukraine KIEV (DPA): Two former Soviet republics, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, are to sign a basic treaty on friendship and cooperation during the visit of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov to Kiev starting today.

Rising drug prices blamed for drop in outpatients

Rising drug prices blamed for drop in outpatients JAKARTA (JP): The number of outpatients using state-run Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, which is popular among low-income Jakartans, has dropped drastically.

Kadin delegation leaves for Japan

Kadin delegation leaves for Japan JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) delegation, led by its chairman Aburizal Bakrie, is leaving for Tokyo today to discuss the country's corporate foreign debt problem.

RI may face dumping charge

RI may face dumping charge WASHINGTON (AFP): A U.S. trade body is to issue a preliminary ruling Thursday in a dispute over prices of imported canned mushrooms that could lead to substantial penalties on Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Chilean exporters.

BHP to sign RI contract

BHP to sign RI contract MELBOURNE (Reuters): The Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (BHP) on Tuesday indicated it was close to signing a deal with the Indonesian government to step up feasibility work for the Gag Island nickel deposit.

Three national shuttlers quit

Three national shuttlers quit JAKARTA (JP): Three national players Ardy B Wiranata, Alan Budikusuma and Hermawan Susanto have announced they will quit badminton.Ardy will train a United States national team while continuing his studies there.