Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 February 1998

49 articles found

Message from the Publisher

Message from the Publisher Approximately a month ago The Jakarta Post implemented several cost-efficiency measures -- including the reduction of the number of pages of the newspaper from 16 to 12 pages -- to eliminate financial losses caused by shrinking advertising revenue and rising newsprint...

Sea dollars a floatable idea

Sea dollars a floatable idea During the present monetary crisis, several facts have come to the surface. Hopefully, the crisis has taught hard lessons to all concerned.In the era of globalization, our interdependence has been established beyond any doubt.

Landslide kills two girls

Landslide kills two girls WONOSOBO, Central Java: A landslide in Larangan Kaliwiro village buried alive two girls, seriously injured their mother and a 70-year-old man last Friday, Antara reported Saturday.

ASEAN talks with Japan, S'pore, Taiwan on rejuvenation fund

ASEAN talks with Japan, S'pore, Taiwan on rejuvenation fund KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is to consider plans for a regional rehabilitation fund which Malaysia has discussed with Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, newspapers reported Saturday.

Govt 'must apologize' to people for crisis

Govt 'must apologize' to people for crisisBy Asip Agus Hasani YOGYAKARTA (JP): Prominent sociologist Loekman Soetrisno believes that an open apology from the government for the economic and social crisis hitting the country would appease the public's outrage over skyrocketing prices and shortages...

RI plywood industries suffer under Asian woes

RI plywood industries suffer under Asian woesBy Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang JAKARTA (JP): The monetary turmoil affecting several Asian countries has significantly cut demand for plywood in overseas markets, and might slowly kill Indonesia's plywood industries.

BI to provide special loans to poultry farmers

BI to provide special loans to poultry farmers JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia, the central bank, plans to provide special credit to help the country's financially troubled poultry farmers.The Ministry of Agriculture said over the weekend that the special credit facilities would be provided to small...

Soaring prices hit transportation sector

Soaring prices hit transportation sector JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of public transportation vehicles have stopped operating due to soaring prices of automobile spare parts resulting from the economic crisis.

A personal computer for those who still have dollars to burn

A personal computer for those who still have dollars to burnBy Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): First, when business has ground down to a snail's pace, what is the most ideal thing that employers can do in addition to keeping their employees on the payroll? Those who can still afford it should, of course,...

Man dies on bus, passengers panic

Man dies on bus, passengers panic JAKARTA (JP): The death of a 77-year-old man on an intercity bus Saturday sent other passengers into a panic, forcing the driver to stop at Cawang tollgate so those on board could get off.

Rival automakers stall Ford's comeback bid

Rival automakers stall Ford's comeback bid MANILA (AFP): Ford Motor Co.'s request for incentives to build a 6.18-billion-peso (US$154-million) integrated facility in the country has been stalled by opposition from rival car manufacturers, industry sources said yesterday.

Singapore acts on maid abuse

Singapore acts on maid abuse SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's government is backing a bill in parliament proposing an increase of up to 10 and a half years in jail for employers who abuse their maids, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Confusion over RI's peg plan keeps marts mixed

Confusion over RI's peg plan keeps marts mixed SINGAPORE (AFP): Confusion over Indonesia's proposal to peg its beleaguered rupiah despite stern warnings from industrialized nations will keep Asian market sentiment mixed this week, analysts said.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:45 Cartoon: The Big Valley 3:10 TV Drama: Kabar Gembira 3:35 Belief in God The Almighty 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Health Program: Keputihan pada Wanita 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Documentary: Candi Cangkuang dan Kampung Pulo 6:00 News:...

Japan strives to protect its investments in RI

Japan strives to protect its investments in RI TOKYO (AFP): As the crisis in Indonesia deepens, Japan is moving to protect its firms struggling to do business in one of its most important investment targets in Asia.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Art Exhibition: Trisani by P. Lanny Adriani, Idran Yusuf, Gunawan Hanjaya, in the Regent Jakarta, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta, until Feb. 27. * Painting Exhibition: Pesona Jepang, by David Leon, Elisha, Lie Tjoen Tjai, Rudolf G.

Stock trading to remain inconsistent this week

Stock trading to remain inconsistent this week JAKARTA (JP): Stock trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) is expected to remain volatile this week due to uncertainty over the planned currency board system and the tense political situation, securities analysts said.

KL steps up patrols to check immigrant influx

KL steps up patrols to check immigrant influx KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia will step up patrols of its coastal waters and alert villagers to act as "eyes and ears" to prevent an expected influx of Indonesians slipping into the country to seek work, news reports said Saturday.

Medicine suppliers told to speed up distribution

Medicine suppliers told to speed up distribution JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has urged medicine suppliers to help speed up the distribution of medicine supplies and avoid hoarding activities."I hope every supplier helps guarantee the distribution of medicines here.

A wise and daring decision

A wise and daring decision Pak Harto (President Soeharto) made a wise and daring decision in instructing the reimbursement of all funds to the depositors in the recently liquidated banks. It was wise because the government had no legal obligation to reimburse depositors of ailing banks.

Government cuts generic drug prices

Government cuts generic drug prices JAKARTA (JP): The government has cut generic drug prices by an average 34 percent after widespread complaints over soaring prices during the last few months.The Ministry of Health announced last week that the reduced prices would come into effect as of Feb. 18.

Emil has no plan to establish political force

Emil has no plan to establish political force SURABAYA (JP): Despite growing political stature accorded him by thousands who support his bid for the vice presidency, senior economist Emil Salim says he has no intention to build a political force."I am not supported by money, much less arms.

APEC holds inaugural talks with Europe

APEC holds inaugural talks with Europe PENANG, Malaysia (AFP): The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held inaugural talks with the European Commission (EC) here Saturday to promote mutual awareness in the area of products standards, officials said.

RI urged to take IMF medicine

RI urged to take IMF medicine LONDON (Agencies): Indonesia came under strong pressure from the Group of Seven (G-7) leading industrial nations over the weekend to carry out reforms stipulated under an IMF economic rescue package and to shelve its fixed peg plan.

Irian, PNG border obscure

Irian, PNG border obscure JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Residents of three villages bordering Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have urged the two countries' governments to define the borderlines for their villages to prevent conflict.

Ramped CBS

Ramped CBS Having been a resident of Indonesia for the last 17 years, I would like to offer my suggestions with respect to the proposed Currency Board System (CBS) to establish a fixed exchange rate of Rp 5,000 to the U.S. dollar.

Crux of the crisis lies beyond economics

Crux of the crisis lies beyond economicsBy Makmur Keliat SURABAYA (JP): The idea of adopting a currency board system (CBS) has become a contentious issue. The bone of contention can be formulated in the following way.

House denies reports of free foodstuff

House denies reports of free foodstuff JAKARTA (JP): The secretary-general's office of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday denied reports that legislators would distribute free but limited basic foodstuff today.

Firm told to stop coal mining project in Kutai

Firm told to stop coal mining project in Kutai JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo has ordered PT Taraco Mining and its contractor PT Geoid Reksa Bumi to stop exploring for coal in Kutai National Park, East Kalimantan.

APEC business travel card to include HK, Chile

APEC business travel card to include HK, Chile PENANG, Malaysia (AFP): The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum agreed yesterday to expand the trial of a regional business travel card from Australia, South Korea and the Philippines to Chile and Hong Kong."Today was in a sense momentous.

Private companies as debtors

Private companies as debtorsFrom KompasI am a layman when it comes to economic matters but I feel attracted to the analysis presented by economic expert and observer Kwik Kian Gie, published by Kompas on Jan. 19.

Korea's per capita GDP sinks

Korea's per capita GDP sinks SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's per capita GDP is expected to fall to US$6,600 this year from $10,548 in 1996 due to the sharply devalued won and the ongoing economic slowdown, a private think tank said over the weekend.

Food prices down in several towns: Report

Food prices down in several towns: Report JAKARTA (JP): The government's efforts to lower the prices of basic commodities by selling directly to the public has shown positive results, a media report said yesterday.

Smog blankets C. Kalimantan

Smog blankets C. Kalimantan MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: Thick smog believed to be caused by forest fires has covered the area of Barito Utara regency here for more than a week.Antara reported Saturday that smog in the regency town here, 350 kilometers north of capital Palangka Raya, was so...

KL's currency plan 'agreed'

KL's currency plan 'agreed' KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said over the weekend that some Southeast Asian countries have expressed support for a plan to conduct trade in regional currencies.

Plan to build triple-tier transit system welcomed

Plan to build triple-tier transit system welcomed JAKARTA (JP): City councilors have hailed the plan to push ahead with the long-awaited construction of the triple-tier transit system, linking Bintaro in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta.

NU says hoarding of goods against Islamic teaching

NU says hoarding of goods against Islamic teaching JAKARTA (JP): Hoarding of essential commodities during an economic crisis is illegal according to Islamic law, a leader of the country's largest Moslem organization said over the weekend.

Limited firms ordered to publish financial reports

Limited firms ordered to publish financial reports JAKARTA (JP): The government has issued a regulation requiring Indonesian businesses to publish their annual financial reports, in a move to improve the country's much-criticized lack of corporate public disclosureImproving transparency is also...

Ray White Casablanca launched

Ray White Casablanca launched JAKARTA (JP): Realtor Ray White Indonesia inaugurated its 14th office in the country yesterday on Jl. Dr. Satrio in South Jakarta.The company's chief executive officer, Johann Boyke Nurtanio, said his company, a franchise of Ray White Australia, was planning to open 26...

U.S. pledges to aid SE Asia

U.S. pledges to aid SE Asia SINGAPORE (AFP): The United States has reiterated its commitment to help Southeast Asia recover from its financial crisis, a statement from a meeting of U.S. ambassadors said.

10,490 Karens to be moved

10,490 Karens to be moved BANGKOK (AFP): The Thai army begins moving 10,490 Karen refugees today from camps next to Salween national park in a bid to curb illegal logging, army officers said.The refugees from Myanmar are believed to be heavily involved in the logging trade, which has come under...

Boeing to produce in Russia

Boeing to produce in Russia MOSCOW (AFP): Giant U.S. planemaker Boeing is to press ahead with plans to produce aircraft and engines in Russia, the Seattle-based firm's European sales director Kostya Zolotusky told Interfax over the weekend.

Investigators baffled over why CAL plane crashed

Investigators baffled over why CAL plane crashed TAIPEI (AFP): Investigators were stymied yesterday over why a China Airlines Airbus crashed into a row of houses six days ago killing 202 people, despite the recovery of initial data from one of the plane's "black boxes.

Depositors reimbursed

Depositors reimbursed Another potential source of social unrest was defused after the government decided last week to use Rp 3.1 trillion (US$344.4 million) in taxpayers' money to reimburse all depositors of the 16 insolvent banks closed last November.

City 'should optimize' bylaw on population

City 'should optimize' bylaw on population JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. urged the city administration yesterday to strictly enforce the existing city bylaw on population, instead of making a new law to cope with the city's overwhelming population.

CBS application requires great care

CBS application requires great care I fully agree with Emil Salim, who has said that a currency board system (CBS) must be applied with great care and not rushed hastily into operation.In considering any such system, we must remember the agreement that we have entered into with the International...

Accountability in the CBS issue

Accountability in the CBS issueBy Frans Seda JAKARTA (JP): Currency board systems may share the same acronym with confidence building systems, but the two are nevertheless distinct entities. They do however fall upon each other in the current economic crisis.

Thousands stranded

Thousands stranded SEMARANG, Central Java: Thousands of passengers were left stranded here yesterday as drivers in the city bus terminal went on strike to protest the soaring prices of auto parts.Authorities mobilized dozens of trucks and buses from government offices bound for Surakarta,...

Students meet Bogor mayor to express their concern

Students meet Bogor mayor to express their concern BOGOR (JP): A 14-strong delegation of Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) students went to the Bogor mayoralty office Saturday to express their concern about events arising from the monetary crisis.