Archive: 24 April 1998
62 articles found
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stop forest fires
Stop forest fires The state minister of environment has said that 65 percent of the fires now burning in East Kalimantan are the responsibility of timber and plantation companies. These fires are illegal. The rich company owners know it, the public knows it and the government knows it, as they have given the rules. The fires have now gone on for a year, and the government has not canceled the concessions or penalized the concessionaires.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tanri will keep his eye on 159 state companies
Tanri will keep his eye on 159 state companies JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng will be fully responsible for overseeing the management of the country's 159 government-owned firms, it was announced yesterday. Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms Hartarto said the President would soon issue a decree on the handover of the companies.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on April 23, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S dollar 1 7,500.00 8,500.00 Austrian shilling 1 572.40 681.60 Australian dollar 1 4,867.50 5,420.30 Belgian franc 1 202.30 224.00 Canadian dollar 1 5,230.10 5,781.40 Swiss franc 1 5,040.30 5,581.90 Deutschemark 1 4,155.10 4,634.80 Danish krone 1 1,093.30 1,211.50 French franc 1 1,243.40 1,379.10 Poundsterling 1 12,480.00 13,785.80 Hong Kong dollar 1 955.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cultural freedom
Cultural freedom The opera house inaugurated by President Soeharto in Jakarta on Monday is said to be world-class. According to the construction company, the theater, which is located at Taman Mini in East Jakarta, is no less sophisticated than other outstanding venues like L'Opera in Paris, the Royal Opera House in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
12 teams to take part in auto racing c'ship
12 teams to take part in auto racing c'ship JAKARTA (JP): Twelve teams have confirmed their participation for the opening of the national Formula Asia auto racing championship series on May 3 at Sentul circuit in Bogor, West Java, the race coordinator said yesterday. Chandra Alim said teams would announce their drivers in the near future. Humpuss, Djarum, Panutan, Prima Jasa, Matari and Star Mild, are among the teams to compete in the opening race, he added.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Remaining 'Bajaj' crash victims found
Remaining 'Bajaj' crash victims found JAKARTA (JP): Bodies of the last two passengers missing after a bajaj (three-wheeled taxi) was hit by a train and plunged into a canal in Petamburan on Tuesday evening were found yesterday, bringing the death toll from the accident to four. The two victims were identified as Wardji, 60, and the bajaj driver, Mat Doari, 30. They were found floating in Kalijodo, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, by city police at about 6 a.m. yesterday.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Cartoon: Tom and Jerry Kids 3:05 Children's Program: Bermain Musik 3:30 Village Program 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Performance: Cakrawala Budaya 5:00 Music: Paket 27 5:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My Country: Rona Nusantara 6:15 Sports 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Culture Program: Pataraksa Sumber Cirebon 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Culture Program: Pataraksa Sumber Cirebon (contd.)...
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two more commit suicide by drinking insecticide
Two more commit suicide by drinking insecticide JAKARTA (JP): An 18-year-old student and a 39-year-old woman have committed suicide by drinking insecticide, raising the number of suicides to 47 over the past four months. Nuraini, a student from private vocational high school SMEA Budi Kemuliaan on Jl. Mangga Besar Raya in West Jakarta, was found dead in her bedroom at a boarding house on Jl. Mangga Besar XIII, Central Jakarta, yesterday morning.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
ADB assists fight against malaria
ADB assists fight against malaria BANJARMASIN, S. Kalimantan: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked Rp 460 million for the construction of a center to assist in the province's fight against malaria. The head of the provincial health office, Soejano H, was quoted as saying by Antara that the malaria station would be constructed on a one-hectare plot in Batulicin, Kotabaru district, where Anopheles mosquitoes, the carrier of malaria, proliferate.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI climbers reach Asian X Games finals
RI climbers reach Asian X Games finals PHUKET, Thailand (JP): Indonesia's Ronald Mamarimbing and Yuyun Yuniar have reached the final of the wall climbing difficulty event in the Asian X Games. Ronald and Yuyun finished seventh in their respective men's and women's semifinals yesterday, behind Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong rivals. Bondan Kartiko and Etha Hendrawati, the other Indonesian representatives in the event, failed to make it into today's final, but both finished in the top 10.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Low-lending rates proposed to aid agribusiness
Low-lending rates proposed to aid agribusiness JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah urged the central bank yesterday to lower lending rates charged on farming activities to encourage businesspeople to invest in the agribusiness sector. Justika said the lending rates currently given by Bank Indonesia were too high for agriculture-based companies and discouraged businesspeople from entering the agribusiness sector.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japanese 'Karawitan' wizard rich but unhappy
Japanese 'Karawitan' wizard rich but unhappy By Sri Wahyuni YOGYAKARTA (JP): One of the handful of lucky people benefiting from the current monetary crisis, which hit the country 10 months ago, is KRT Wasitodiningrat, a Javanese karawitan maestro. Wasitodiningrat, 89, also an advisor to KGPAA Sri Paku Alam VIII of Yogyakarta's Puro Pakualaman Palace, makes Rp 24 million (US$3,000) a month.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt may reveal names of large debtor companies
Govt may reveal names of large debtor companies JAKARTA (JP): The government may in future disclose the names of corporates with large foreign debts to provide more transparency, Finance Minister Fuad Bawazier has said. Fuad said Wednesday night the move would be in line with the new presidential decree requiring all companies with foreign debts to report them to Bank Indonesia, the central bank.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Missing activist 'found' in police cell
Missing activist 'found' in police cell JAKARTA (JP): Student activist Andi Arief, who went missing last month, has been found in detention at the National Police Headquarters and claims he was abducted, his lawyer said yesterday. Munir, vice chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), told a media conference that police had called the foundation on Wednesday morning to inform him that Andi was in their custody.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Council to hold discussion on traffic sticker scheme
Council to hold discussion on traffic sticker scheme JAKARTA (JP): The City Council announced yesterday it would invite critics of the highly controversial traffic sticker system for input before it seals the plan with a bylaw. Council speaker Edy Waluyo said the initiative was meant to build "better understanding" between the administration, the legislative council and the public.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
On missing people
On missing people From Merdeka Many print media publications have devoted columns to the discussion on cases of missing citizens because they have occurred on occasions linked with special political events and policies not being in tune with the spirit of the constitution. Journalists' reports have been made on the Tanjung Priok incident (1984), the Santa Cruz case (1991), the July 27 riot (1996) and the blood-spilling incident at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (1998).
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI debt talks hinge on trade finance arrears
RI debt talks hinge on trade finance arrears NEW YORK (Dow Jones): The payment of millions of dollars in trade finance arrears owed to foreign banks by Indonesian banks is key to ongoing debt negotiations between the country and international creditors, bankers say. Indonesia is just a week away from potentially becoming the first sovereign of the Asian financial crisis to default on mostly trade-finance debts owed to foreign banks.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Aussie naval ships arrive in Ambon
Aussie naval ships arrive in Ambon JAKARTA: Australian naval ships HMAS Launceston and HMAS Wollongong arrived in Ambon yesterday for the annual pilgrimage of Gull Force veterans who fought in the region during World War II, Antara reported. The Australian embassy said the commemoration would be held tomorrow at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Ambon. A number of Australians under the Gull Force fought and died in Ambon during the World War II.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia accepts UN statement on East Timor
Indonesia accepts UN statement on East Timor JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas accepted a statement on East Timor issued by the chairman of the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights yesterday. The statement expressed concern over alleged human rights violations, but acknowledged and welcomed steps taken by Indonesia to address the problem.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Journalists told to become more professional
Journalists told to become more professional JAKARTA (JP): Despite a government promise not to revoke publishing licenses, the media will remain vulnerable to legal action unless it improves its professionalism, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) warned here yesterday. The association's ethics council called on reporters to rigorously practice journalistic principles such as "impartiality, honesty and fairness, precision and accuracy".
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Minister pledges end to PLN row with contractors
Minister pledges end to PLN row with contractors JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has assured that state electricity company PLN will soon settle its dispute with its gas contractors, including PT Arco Indonesia, over gas payments soon. But PLN might take longer to settle its disputes with independent power producers (IPPs) due to the complexity of the issues being negotiated, he said.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Student protests continue, violence mars several
Student protests continue, violence mars several JAKARTA (JP): University students here and in many other cities plugged on with their demands for an end to the economic crisis and comprehensive reforms in more demonstrations yesterday. At least two incidents of violence were reported after rallying students attempted to leave their campuses and clashed with security personnel. These occurred in Medan, provincial capital of North Sumatra, and Denpasar, the capital of tourist resort island Bali.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Italian and his wife fall victim to taxi robbery
Italian and his wife fall victim to taxi robbery JAKARTA (JP): An Italian and his Indonesian wife were robbed and assaulted early Wednesday morning in the latest in a spate of robberies involving taxi drivers working in tandem with criminals, police said. "When they reached Jl. Casablanca in a Tiffany taxi from somewhere near Tanamur Discotheque in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, the taxi was stopped by two men at about 12:30 a.m.," City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Wednesday.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Yogya art on display in Jakarta
Yogya art on display in Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Entering the World Trade Center, you are greeted by sculptures of wood, iron and gypsum showing monster-like people. Paintings and screenprints are also part of the works of 81 artists currently exhibiting at the center. The Indonesian Fine Arts Academy in Yogyakarta organized the exhibition, which runs through Monday and is planned to be an annual event.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 23, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 650 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,000 -25 21,500 Alumindo Light Metal 400 0 123,500 Alumindo Perkasa 300 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 500 0 12,500 Aneka Tambang 1,600 50 7,868,000 Anwar Sierad 250 0 0 Apac Centertex Corp.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI to recover in three years: ADB
RI to recover in three years: ADB MANILA (Agencies): Indonesia is the most serious casualty of Asia's financial crisis and its economy will not recover until 2001, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday. "Despite its sound macro-economic fundamentals, Indonesia suffered some of the worst consequences of the recent regional financial crisis," the bank said in its annual report. "In terms of the extent of its currency depreciation, Indonesia is the most serious casualty.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar's NLD sees new crackdown coming
Myanmar's NLD sees new crackdown coming By Rajan Moses BANGKOK (Reuters): Myanmar's ruling junta has forcibly fed the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) a dose of bitter preventive medicine by jailing a prominent woman leader of the organization, analysts said on Wednesday. The ruling State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) jailed the NLD's San San for breaching conditions of an amnesty under which she was released from prison while serving a 25-year sentence for treason.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Quake rocks Manokwari
Quake rocks Manokwari JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the open- ended Richter scale jolted Manokwari district in Irian Jaya early yesterday. A spokesman for the provincial meteorological and geophysical office, Margiono, was quoted by Antara as saying that the tremors were felt at about 3:54 a.m. local time. The quake's epicenter was traced to 50 kms east of Manokwari, about 12km beneath the earth's surface. Reports on casualties and damage have yet to be released.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie welcomes UAE purchase of CN-235 planes
Habibie welcomes UAE purchase of CN-235 planes JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie welcomed yesterday the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decision to purchase four CN-235 aircraft from Indonesia. Habibie told visiting UAE Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Suhail MK Shahen Al-Marar that he was very pleased with the trust given to state aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Surya trading suspended
Surya trading suspended JAKARTA (JP): The management of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) has decided to indefinitely suspend trading in Bank Surya stock until its shareholders or the government decide on its status. JSX management said in a statement Wednesday that Bank Surya met all criteria for suspension, however, the bank had not yet been delisted. While Surya shares are still being traded the company remains obliged to meet all transparency and reporting requirements.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Employees of suspended banks
Employees of suspended banks From Kompas In representing the employees of one bank whose operation has been suspended (the minister of finance's term), we wish to express our disappointment with the way the new minister of finance announced the suspension of the seven private banks. While it is true that the government must take care of the interest of the banks' customers, the fate of the employees working at these banks also deserves the same amount of attention.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Quirimit wins 7th stage of Tour of the Philippines
Quirimit wins 7th stage of Tour of the Philippines SAN JOSE CITY, Philippines (Agencies): Arnel Quirimit of the Philippines national team led the way home for breakaway partner Carlo Guieb of Northern Luzon to win the 7th stage and moves just 53 seconds behind general classification leader and teammate Warren Davadilla in the Marlboro Centennial Tour of the Philippines '98 yesterday.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Forest fires
Forest fires From Media Indonesia Recent newspaper reports stated that in the context of the East Kalimantan forest fires, the purchase of amphibious airplanes is being considered. Foreign companies have made offers of 10 such aircraft for US$75 million. It is worrying that the government should be spending a lot of money during the economic crisis. Why should the government bear the burden on its own? Is it effective to spend such a big amount of money?
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian bad debts rise
Asian bad debts rise KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): Barclays Capital expects non- performing loans in Asia to dwarf the extent of bad debt incurred during the Latin American banking crisis, according to a research report received yesterday from Barclays Capital. "Non-performing loans in Indonesia could peak around 75% by the end of this year. In Korea, a level above 40% is likely, while in Thailand and Malaysia, a figure significantly above 30% is expected," the report says.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stripes betray 'army' playboy
Stripes betray 'army' playboy JAKARTA (JP): A 24-year-old jobless man posing as an Army special force (Kopassus) member had his love adventure abruptly ended because the military stripes he attached upside down on his sleeves eventually betrayed him. The man was with a woman he was dating when two military officers arrested him in the Maluku capital of Ambon after noticing that the man had placed the stripes upside down on his otherwise impressive uniform.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt calls for blood for dengue sufferers
Govt calls for blood for dengue sufferers JAKARTA (JP): Alarmed by the rising death toll in the nationwide dengue fever outbreak, government officials made a fresh call yesterday for the public to donate blood. Dengue fever has particularly affected Java and South Sulawesi. Close to 200 people have reportedly died and thousands of others have been hospitalized so far this year. Hospitals in affected areas have been asked to spare more spaces for dengue patients.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
PT Indosat cancels investments
PT Indosat cancels investments JAKARTA (JP): PT Indosat has canceled investments in Southeast Asia and Europe and will review all its investments in other telecommunications companies. Indosat president Tjahjono Soerjodibroto said yesterday the telecommunication company had won shareholder approval to cancel and review the investments.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asia currencies drag their feet as yen steps up
Asia currencies drag their feet as yen steps up SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies dragged their feet yesterday as the benefits of a strong yen were tempered by demand for cheaper dollars. News of a long-delayed Malaysian bank merger and Indonesia's apparent commitment to its IMF reform agreement kept regional currencies well underpinned, but dealers said the dollar continued to be sought on dips. The Asian Development Bank's (ADB) annual report was largely ignored by the sleepy market.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Astra reports losses of $34.8 million
Astra reports losses of $34.8 million JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed PT Astra International said yesterday that it suffered losses of Rp 278.7 billion (US$34.8 million) last year because of its increasing debt burden in rupiah terms. In 1996, Astra booked a net profit of Rp 469.45 billion. Despite the loss the company reported a 29.2 percent increase in consolidated net revenue to Rp 15.87 trillion last year from Rp 12.28 trillion in 1996.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
PSSI asked to pay SEA Games debt to AFC
PSSI asked to pay SEA Games debt to AFC JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council ordered the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) yesterday to pay its US$58,384 debt from the 19th Southeast Asian Games organizers to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The general secretary of the national soccer body, Nugraha Besoes, said he accepted the decision after the sports council reminded him of an agreement between it and sports organizations on competition funding for the SEA Games.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Drug dealer arrested at hospital
Drug dealer arrested at hospital JAKARTA (JP): City police have arrested an alleged drug dealer who sold marijuana to plainclothes officers in the parking lot of Harapan Kita Hospital, West Jakarta, an officer said yesterday. Head of the city police narcotics unit Lt. Col. Siswandi told reporters that the suspect, identified as Nukasah alias Sikil, 43, had been under police surveillance for two months.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Baby found in plastic bag
Baby found in plastic bag JAKARTA (JP): Two men looking for worms for bait found a decomposed body of a baby in a trash dump in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, Wednesday, a media report said yesterday. Police said the female baby's remains, found in a black plastic bag at about 8 a.m., may have been in the dump site for several days, Antara reported. The police sent the body to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital for examination to help trace its identity. (pan)
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Summarecon objects freezing of its accounts
Summarecon objects freezing of its accounts JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed property developer PT Summarecon Agung has reported to the Capital Market Supervisory Agency what it claims is the unlawful freezing of its accounts at several banks and the confiscation of its automobiles by the police.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
El Nino caused $20 billion in damage to Asia-Pacific
El Nino caused $20 billion in damage to Asia-Pacific MANILA (Agencies): The current El Nino is estimated to have caused in excess of US$20 billion worth of damage to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and the Pacific Islands, according to a report released yesterday by the Asian Development Bank. The Asian Development Outlook said this amount was significantly larger than the damage caused by the 1982-83 El Nino.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
WFP assists Indonesia
WFP assists Indonesia ROME (Reuters): The UN's World Food Program yesterday launched a $88 million appeal for emergency aid to help avert major shortages in Indonesia, which has been hit by severe drought and Asia's economic crisis. "We ask the international community to act now to prevent the present food shortage from developing into a major food crisis," WFP Executive Director Catherine Bertini said in a statement.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Short-term intervention sought to defuse crisis
Short-term intervention sought to defuse crisis JAKARTA (JP): Leading experts from various disciplines proposed a number of short-term government interventions which would help alleviate the suffering of the poor yesterday. Among initiatives suggested were charity programs, placing controls on the price of essential commodities, establishing a local level information system for food scarcity and availability, and the establishing community employment exchanges.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tanzania expels Indonesia diplomat over game trophies
Tanzania expels Indonesia diplomat over game trophies DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters): Tanzania has expelled an Indonesian diplomat after he was found in possession of illegal game trophies which he planned to smuggled out of the country, a foreign ministry statement said. The statement, released on Wednesday, said: "Tanzania has decided to declare Mr Sungong Sugiyono, administrative attache at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, persona non grata...
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta down, other Asian stock markets close mixed
Jakarta down, other Asian stock markets close mixed JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) closed 1.8 percent lower yesterday, driven by a fall in large-cap shares as the bearish trend continued despite the government's apparent commitment to economic reforms. The JSX Composite Index closed down 8.78 points at 491.85 on a total turnover of 491.85 million shares changing hands on the regular market worth Rp 500.64 billion (US$62.58 million).
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Colijn's hands 'were not clean'
Colijn's hands 'were not clean' By A. Santoso AMSTERDAM (JP): A wave of public shock has engulfed the Netherlands after a historian revealed last week that one of the most prominent Dutch statesmen, a former prime minister, diplomat and popular Christian leader, was directly involved in a bloodbath in the then Dutch East Indies. Dr. Hendrikus Colijn (1869-1944) was a lieutenant in 1894 when he led a military expedition in Lombok against forces of the Balinese king, Tjakranegara.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt considers permanent lodgings in Saudi Arabia
Govt considers permanent lodgings in Saudi Arabia JAKARTA (JP): The government will explore the possibility of providing Indonesian haj pilgrims with permanent lodgings in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab said yesterday. Speaking to reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at his private residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, Quraish said the plan was intended to provide pilgrims with less expensive, more comfortable accommodation.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
UI students call for MPR special session
UI students call for MPR special session JAKARTA (JP): A group of University of Indonesia postgraduate students called on the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to convene a special meeting to revoke its recent decree which grants President Soeharto extra powers. "We want the MPR to immediately take the initiative and hold an extraordinary session of the Assembly in response to widely supported calls for reforms," the group said in a declaration read out by Moeroe Supranoto.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Astra Agro projects 200% profit rise
Astra Agro projects 200% profit rise JAKARTA (JP): PT Astra Agro Lestari, a plantation subsidiary of the country's largest automaker PT Astra International, projected yesterday a nearly 200 percent increase in net profit this year, to Rp 270 billion (US$33.75 million) from Rp 90.6 billion in 1997. Finance director Benny Tjoeng said the company also expected a 82 percent increase in net sales to Rp 1 trillion from Rp 549 billion last year.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Food poisoning hits Philippines
Food poisoning hits Philippines BACOLOD, Philippines (AP): Fifteen people have been hospitalized in the drought-stricken central Philippines after eating insecticide-laden shellfish and poisonous wild tubers, officials said yesterday. Gov. Rafael Coscolluela of Negros Occidental province said the drought had caused about 100 million pesos ($2.6 million) in crop losses in the province, a major sugar-producing region.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cooking oil producers off CPO supply list
Cooking oil producers off CPO supply list JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi has appointed 14 refineries in Jakarta, Surabaya in East Java and Medan in North Sumatra to process crude palm oil (CPO) produced by state plantation companies PT Perkebunan Nusantara I through XIV. The 14 refineries, however, did not include the three cooking oil producers which usually receive a monthly supply of about 39,200 tons of CPO from the state plantation companies.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
'Unjuk akal' not 'unjuk rasa'
'Unjuk akal' not 'unjuk rasa' From now on let's use the term unjuk akal (show of intelligence) instead of unjuk rasa (show of emotion), because the action (mass demonstrations) has been considered with deep thinking (using intellectual/rational intelligence) or akal, not just a mere burst of emotion or perasaan (of the moment alone) by those who proposed the idea or those who lead the action (usually involving university students or graduates or other intellectual people). DONALDY B.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
PT Jamsostek denies it occupies land illegally
PT Jamsostek denies it occupies land illegally JAKARTA (JP): State-owned social security insurance company PT Jamsostek has denied allegations that it is illegally occupying land on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta, where its two-tower project is being built.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Labor supplier in trouble
Labor supplier in trouble TANGERANG (JP): A labor recruiting company is in trouble for allegedly misusing a vocational training center in the posh Modernland housing complex to board 250 women seeking employment overseas. The regency has threatened to close down PT Rajasa Intama if the company is found guilty of misusing its permit for the building and failing to provide training for the job seekers.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
ICBC opens Jakarta office
ICBC opens Jakarta office TAIPEI (Dow Jones): International Commercial Bank of China, one of Taiwan's largest state-controlled banks, will establish a representative office in Jakarta to help promote bilateral trade between the two countries. The representative office could eventually become a full- fledged branch, ICBC said. The bank has already received approval for an operating license from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
BNI's net profit slumps by 5.9%
BNI's net profit slumps by 5.9% JAKARTA (JP): State Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) announced a fall in net profits to Rp 315.23 billion (US$39.39 million) yesterday, a 5.9 percent decline on profits of Rp 335.13 billion made the previous year. The bank said in a statement that the decline was attributable to the sharp depreciation in the value of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. "Our 1997 performance was significantly affected by the depreciation in the rupiah.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Discussion on good and bad
Discussion on good and bad JAKARTA (JP): Sisters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a greater understanding of Islam for the capital's English-speaking community, will hold a discussion titled 'Good and Bad, What does Islam Say?' tomorrow. Angela Alhamid, an organization spokesperson, said yesterday that the discussion, which will be held at the Pusdiklat Depkes building on Jl. Hang Jebat Raya, in South Jakarta, would be led by respected scholar Nurcholish Madjid.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Parched Sabah gets no relief
Parched Sabah gets no relief KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (Reuters): Heavy rains and cloud seeding over parts of Borneo island have failed to halt a drop in dam levels in Malaysia's drought-stricken Sabah state, newspapers reported yesterday. "Only 14 of the 48 (seeding) operations carried out have been successful," the Daily Express newspaper quoted the state's environment minister, Bernard Dompok, as saying.
Fri, 24 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Time to end the colonial plantation legacy
Time to end the colonial plantation legacy The government plans to privatize a number of state enterprises and has named a government plantation group among them. Dr. H.S. Dillon, executive director of the Center for Agricultural Policy Studies and the head of a team which consolidated 26 plantation companies into nine groups in 1994, addresses the issue. Question: What do you think of the government's plans to privatize state enterprises?