Spotlight Photo A: Indofood JP/alx FOOD SUPPLEMENTS: Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication/Chairman of National Family Planning Board Haryono Suyono (right), accompanied by Stephen Woodhouse, Unicef's representative for Indonesia and Malaysia (second right), comments on a pack of dried milk porridge held by Eva R. Hutapea, Indofood CEO. Haryono and Woodhouse signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday on food supplements for 70,000 babies in nine areas in Java.

Reform urged for agricultural sector JAKARTA (JP): People here are still wondering about the irony of this supposedly rich country having to increasingly import agricultural products to overcome food shortages. People have recently had to rush into lines to buy rice, sugar, cooking oil, margarine, milk and other basic staples for fear of food shortages when the rupiah slumped against the U.S. dollar.

New Jazz bar out to help patrons escape worries By Marieke Van Heek JAKARTA (JP): Jazz and Jakarta, still underestimated in the city's nightlife. Although JakJazz proves every year that Jakarta residents love jazz, there has, until recently, only been one jazz bar here. A new jazz bar, Harry's Bar, in the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, opened its doors just one month ago. Arriving there, you'll be greeted by Harry's Bar's doorman, who stands ready, beckoning you to enter.

Water to be rationed KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Water rationing in Malaysia's capital and its surroundings may last to October if the drought caused by the El Nio weather phenomenon continues, the daily Star quoted government officials as saying yesterday. The newspaper quoted central Selangor state executive councillor Rakibah Abdul Manap as saying that the rationing exercise would be extended for six more months if there was not enough rain.

Small companies survive crisis the best The business sector has long been feeling the pinch of the economic crisis, with many companies going bankrupt or slowing down their pace. But there are some survivors which are able to maintain their performance or even step up a gear. The Jakarta Post reporters Edith Hartanto, Budiman Moerdijat, Devi Asmarani, Kosasih Daradjat, Dwi Atmanta and correspondent M. Ahyani compiled the following report. Pictures by Oka Budi Yogaswara.

Family to be reunited with 'missing' activist JAKARTA (JP): Family members of Haryanto Taslam, an Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) politician who disappeared under strange circumstances a month ago, are due to meet him today in Surabaya after receiving an unexpected phone call summoning them to the East Java capital. "Mas Haryanto called his wife from Surabaya Thursday night and told her to visit him in Surabaya," Haryanto's sister-in-law Yuli, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

What should we do with museums? JAKARTA (JP): A few days after the appointment of the Seventh Development Cabinet, which caused much discomfort among artists, Director of Museums Tedjo Susilo said museums could "be merged into the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture" because they "were more suited... to cultural tourism". His statement serves as a worthy introduction to the case of museums, as it highlights one of the confusions posed by the establishment of the new ministry.

Glimmers of hope for small businnesses in crisis JAKARTA (JP): Irwan Suryanto has made a name for himself in the West Java town of Majalengka.

Saving what's left of forest foliage and its precious fauna By P.J. Leo BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan (JP): The fires in East Kalimantan are far from dying down. Who knows how many decades will pass before the forests are green again and safe for all its inhabitants. Now, coal sources are exposed to the sun's rays; the trees protecting them no longer stand. Fires from under the earth ignite surrounding dry foliage and spread rapidly.

Tabot fiesta to mark Islamic New Year JAKARTA (JP): About 100,000 tourists are expected to descend on Bengkulu, the capital of the southern Sumatran province of the same name, for the Tabot Festival from April 27 to May 7. This unique festival will feature dozens of tabot effigies, grand gold-plated wooden boxes weighing between 200 kg and 1.5 tons each and symbolizing their owners' regal status.

Fire guts 32 houses, leaves 128 homeless JAKARTA (JP): A fire gutted 32 houses on Jl. Kayu Mas Utara in East Jakarta yesterday, leaving at least 128 people homeless. No injuries were reported in the incident and losses were still being calculated last night. The head of the East Jakarta fire department, Yoyon Ardisoma, told reporters that an electrical short circuit was believed to have caused the blaze. "Currently we're still investigating the house where the fire started.

Salaries of civil servants From Merdeka The current difficult situation requires the government to not only carefully and prudently lay down its policies, including a decision to raise the salaries of civil servants and members of the Armed Forces, but also to do so quickly. A careful study must be conducted on such a pay raise to improve the welfare of civil servants and members of the Armed Forces, while the necessary funds must be found.

Wardiman's idea may be worth a review The following articles by art critic Amir Sidharta, curator of the Museum Universitas Pelita Harapan at Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang, examine the confusion created by the recent cabinet reorganization granting two ministries the management of arts and culture. Amir offers recommendations that may encourage further discussion to solve the problem.

Dialog tries to bridge gap on reform JAKARTA (JP): Senior government officials and students held a much-anticipated dialog yesterday to try and bridge the gap between them on the shape and pace of the political reforms which both sides claim to advocate. While the atmosphere was generally amiable, with both sides patiently listening to and responding to each other's points, there were glaring differences as each side seemed entrenched in its original stance.

Fuad gives his word RI won't backtrack By Yenni Djahidin WASHINGTON D.C. (JP): The government reiterated here Friday that it would carry out all the economic reform programs it had worked out with the International Monetary Fund this month to lift the country out of the present crisis. "Indonesia is determined to regain the confidence of the international community through a more open economic system," Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier told reporters.

Preacher gets dengue JAKARTA (JP): Celebrated Moslem preacher Zainuddin M.Z. has become the latest victim of the dengue fever outbreak which has spread throughout the country. Zainuddin was forced to call off scheduled sermons for mass prayer gatherings at the Sabilul Hasanah Islamic Boarding School in Musi Banyuasin (Muba) regency and the South Sumatra capital of Palembang Saturday. The chairman of the boarding school, M.

Government to announce Games audit tomorrow JAKARTA (JP): The government will announce the results of an audit on the 19th Southeast Asian Games' underwriting consortium tomorrow, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Agung Laksono said yesterday. The announcement will be made after he meets with the National Sports Council's top brass early tomorrow, Agung explained after attending a dialog with youth organizations and students at Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Sukyatno, the man behind Es Teler By Edith Hartanto JAKARTA (JP): Es teler is a household name in cities across the archipelago for its unique combination of coconut, avocado, jackfruit, syrup, milk and ice. But few locals are familiar with Sukyatno Nugroho, the man who brings it from the street to elegant shopping malls.

Corel Gallery Magic adds spice to flyers By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): My friend Michael bought a Pentium PC about two years ago. He latter added an HP ScanJet 4P and an HP DeskJet 850C. He owned one of the biggest bakeries in town, and what he had in mind was to design the flyers and catalogs for his shops. Needless to say, this would be part hobby, part business strategy for him.

Gen. Soemitro sheds more light on the Jan. 15 riots Pangkopkamtib Jen. Soemitro dan Peristiwa 15 Januari 1974 (Chief of the Internal Security Agency Gen. Soemitro and the Jan. 15, 1974 incident); By Heru Cahyono; Pustaka Sinar Harapan, Jakarta, 1998; xii + 312 pages; Rp 32,000 JAKARTA (JP): Today's student action is reminiscent of an incident on Jan. 15, 1974. And the political and economic reforms being demanded by students now are not much different from those voiced by students 24 years ago.

Woman jumps from RSCM's 3rd floor JAKARTA (JP): A woman, who had just given birth to a baby boy, suffered severe injuries when she jumped from the third floor of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta. Tri Darwati, 38, had delivered the baby about 1:30 a.m. Saturday but reportedly panicked and jumped out of her bed when nurses came to feed and bathe her about 6 a.m. Reports said Tri sprang from her bed screaming, ran toward the window and jumped out.

Fashion Center to open JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Trade and Industry Mohamad "Bob" Hasan and Canadian ambassador Gary J. Smith will officially inaugurate the Indotex LaSalle Documentation Center of Indonesian Fashion here tomorrow at the LaSalle International College, Gedung Pusat Niaga, Central Jakarta. The center is a complete reference center for the Indonesian textile, garment and fashion industry, a statement from the college said.

Singapore and Malaysia hail bridge, mend fences SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore and Malaysia officially opened a second road link between them yesterday, with their leaders taking the opportunity to reaffirm the diplomatic ties that were strained in a row last year. Following a multi-religious blessing at the opening ceremony for the new bridge, prime ministers from both sides hailed the "friendly relationship" and "close coordination and cooperation" between the two neighbors.

Two events to decide RI Asiad shooting team JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will select its representatives for the 13th Asian Games shooting competition after two overseas outings, national coach Glenn Clifton Apfel has announced. Apfel said Friday that the Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin) had picked the World Championships next month in Brunei and an Asian Games warmup in Bangkok in August to sort out the team.

Kompiang teaches love of dance JAKARTA (JP): Mysticism, according to Balinese choreographer I.G. Kompiang Raka, comes from the belly of religious dancing. Any other kind would be its commercialization. "Dance-dramas, as some call it nowadays," Kompiang said. And mysticism will be in the air when 95 children dancers of Saraswati Dance School perform Kompiang's creations at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on April 26.