Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 April 1998

50 articles found

Bank move may cause more worries

Bank move may cause more worries The government has suspended the operation of seven banks and taken over the management of seven others. Economist Kwik Kian Gie discusses the impact of the drastic measure.

Bank executives get police protection

Bank executives get police protection JAKARTA (JP): Police have pledged to protect members of the boards of directors of seven suspended banks and another seven under the management of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).City police chief Maj. Gen.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on April 6, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S dollar 1 8,000.00 9,500.00Austrian shilling 1 446.60 728.80Australian dollar 1 4,000.20 6,105.40Belgian franc 1 157.80 239.60Canadian dollar 1 4,102.

On late water bills

On late water bills We would like to thank Mr. Hasan Karman for sending a letter to the editor of Media Indonesia which also appeared in The Jakarta Post (April 4) on his complaint titled KATI's bill comes late. However, we would like to provide an explanation.The late arrival of Mr.

Kalimantan wants to cash in on gems

Kalimantan wants to cash in on gemsBy Mick Elmore MARTAPURA, East Kalimantan (DPA): Diamond miners in South Kalimantan say their stones have magical powers -- a trait the local government is banking on to boost the economy of the remote and under-developed Indonesian province.

Maluku fishing worries Aussies

Maluku fishing worries Aussies AMBON, Maluku: The Australian government has expressed concern that some Maluku fishermen still use potassium and other toxic chemicals to catch kerapu fish."I became deeply concerned after hearing the explanation from the governor.

McDonald's donates garbage truck

McDonald's donates garbage truck JAKARTA (JP): McDonald's Indonesia donated a dump truck to the city administration on Monday as part of the firm's commitment to help improve public sanitation.McDonald's Indonesia president Bambang N.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film 3:05 Family's Film 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Teen Program: Remaja Indonesia 5:00 Teen Drama: Science World 5:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 6:05 My Country: Rona Nusantara 6:15 Sports 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News...

Depositors rush to withdraw funds from troubled banks

Depositors rush to withdraw funds from troubled banks JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of anxious depositors rushed to withdraw their deposits Monday from the seven banks placed under the management of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) by the government over the weekend.

Moslem leaders call for patience

Moslem leaders call for patience JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders urged millions of Indonesian Moslems celebrating Idul Adha yesterday to remember the virtues of sacrifice and called on them to pray together for the strength to lift the nation out of its economic crisis.

Tourism in a time of crisis

Tourism in a time of crisis Our tourist industry can only lament the decline in tourist arrivals to the country. Hotels are suffering from a lack of guests, tour and travel agents are experiencing decreased ticket bookings and souvenir shops lack buyers.

Scavengers protest burning of garbage

Scavengers protest burning of garbage JAKARTA (JP): Seventy-five scavengers of the Bantar Gebang garbage dump in Bekasi staged a demonstration at City Hall on Monday protesting the city's decision to burn garbage instead of dumping it at the site.

Goro assigned to assist Bulog

Goro assigned to assist Bulog JAKARTA (JP): Despite the campaign against crony capitalism, the government has assigned a private company partly owned by Hutomo Mandala Putra to assist the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) distribute basic commodities nationwide.

Private debt talks to be held in NY

Private debt talks to be held in NY JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations to settle Indonesia's private sector debt of $68 billion will be held in New York mid-April following the conclusion of the first phase of negotiations in Singapore on Monday, Deutsche Bank said in a statement.

Dengue fever kills five

Dengue fever kills five JAKARTA (JP): Five out of 519 dengue fever sufferers treated in North Jakarta between January and March died, an official said Sunday."The five were residents of four subdistricts -- Lagoa, Semper Barat, Rawa Badak and Tugu Selatan," Bambang Irawan, head of the North Jakarta...

Govt collects 225 kg of gold

Govt collects 225 kg of gold JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Finance announced Monday that the government had received gold donations from the public totaling 225.87 kilograms, worth Rp 7.5 billion (US$888,000), since Jan. 20.

Missing in action

Missing in action The violence accompanying the student demonstrations which have erupted in various cities throughout Indonesia over the past couple of weeks is most certainly to be regretted. It is lamentable that injuries have been inflicted on those involved on both sides -- protesters on the...

Aussie concerned export to RI

Aussie concerned export to RI CANBERRA (Reuters): Australian Industry Minister John Moore said on Monday the Australian government remained concerned about some exports to Indonesia.Moore's comment followed his announcement on Sunday that the government would extend US$250 million in assistance for...

U.S. official due in KL, Jakarta over Iran deals

U.S. official due in KL, Jakarta over Iran deals KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A senior State Department official will visit Malaysia this week to review an investment by state oil company Petronas in Iran that could trigger U.S. sanctions, a U.S. official said yesterday.

Rectors to regulate campus rallies: Minister

Rectors to regulate campus rallies: Minister JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar said it was up to individual rectors to decide whether student rallies and activities had delved into the forbidden area of "practical politics".

Missing people case to be probed

Missing people case to be probed JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights will launch today an investigation into the clash between protesting students and security personnel in Yogyakarta, and the reported disappearance of political activists.Bambang W.

Govt urged to turn back to agribusiness to beat crisis

Govt urged to turn back to agribusiness to beat crisis JAKARTA (JP): The government should focus on developing the agricultural sector to reduce the country's dependence on imported commodities and to cope with rising unemployment, a noted agriculture analyst said yesterday.

Governor OKs increase in tap water tariffs

Governor OKs increase in tap water tariffs JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso approved Monday the 25 percent average increase in tap water tariffs announced by city- owned water company PDAM late last week.Sutiyoso said he would sign a gubernatorial decree legalizing the new tariffs.

Makindo's profits up

Makindo's profits up JAKARTA (JP): PT Makindo has reported a 32 percent increase in net profits for 1997 to Rp 89.6 billion (US$9.48 million).Makindo said Monday that its total assets expanded 621 percent to Rp 1.07 trillion as of the end of 1997.

S&P acts on RI banks following IBRA action

S&P acts on RI banks following IBRA action JAKARTA (JP): Global rating agency Standard & Poor's revised Monday its rating of Bank Umum Nasional (BUN), Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI) and Bank Expor Impor Indonesia (Bank Exim) to "NM", or not meaningful.

Indonesian workers still in high demand

Indonesian workers still in high demand JAKARTA (JP): Despite Malaysia's ongoing deportation of thousands of illegal workers, Indonesians are still in high demand in the international labor market, says an official.

'Cakrawarta' starts services

'Cakrawarta' starts services JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's first broadcasting satellite Cakrawarta I will commence test transmissions April 15, with full commercial services expected to start a month later, satellite operator Datakom Asia said yesterday.

Fire warning network suggested

Fire warning network suggested MANILA (AP): Canada has recommended the formation of a regional warning network to allow quick responses to forest fires in any part of Asia, a Canadian official said yesterday.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 6, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 650 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 750 -75 20,000 Alumindo Light Metal 400 -25 150,000...

Commitment to reform key to recovery

Commitment to reform key to recovery JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's way out from its worst ever economic crisis does not depend on the substance of the IMF-sponsored economic reforms but on the seriousness in implementing the program, economists have said.

Salim cancels plan to buy Danamon stake

Salim cancels plan to buy Danamon stake JAKARTA (JP): Salim Group, the country's largest business conglomerate, and U.S. firm Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) announced Monday they had abandoned plans to buy a stake in publicly listed Bank Danamon.

New firm to manage ailing banks' assets

New firm to manage ailing banks' assets JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to establish a new company to manage the assets of ailing and suspended banks, Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier said.The company, which will be under the supervision of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), will...

Rates for Tax Payment

Rates for Tax Payment JAKARTA (JP): The new official conversion rates as the basis for payment of import duty, value-added tax on goods and services, sales tax on luxury goods, export tax and income tax, valid from April 6 to April 12: U.S dollar 1 Rp 8,525.00Austrian shilling 1 659.

Hostels' lucrative trade dries up

Hostels' lucrative trade dries up PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Many initially applauded the removal of streetwalkers from the Baturaden tourist resort a fortnight ago, but now the owners of hundreds of nearby hostels complain they are going bankrupt because no one is using their facilities anymore.

Sembiring becomes Trikora military chief

Sembiring becomes Trikora military chief JAKARTA (JP): Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring was installed Monday as the new chief of the Trikora Regional Military Command which oversees Maluku and Irian Jaya.Sembiring, a familiar face to the command, is a 1972 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy.

Foreign universities

Foreign universitiesFrom KompasWith respect to the possibility of foreign institutions being allowed to set up universities in Indonesia, I am in agreement with Dr. Mochtar Buchori. It is public assumption that in terms of qualification foreign graduates are better (and perhaps they are) than local...

PSSI may change playoff system

PSSI may change playoff system JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) is pondering changes to the post-league playoff matches to allow extra time for the national team to regroup ahead of the 2nd Tiger Cup finals.

Why in Jakarta only?

Why in Jakarta only?From MerdekaWe feel a lot of satisfaction every time we read or hear reports about businesspeople and entertainers donating basic foodstuffs to the less fortunate.Their actions show their concern for the people in the present monetary crisis.

Bank stock sales push down JSX prices

Bank stock sales push down JSX prices JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) were dragged down 1.3 percent Monday by the heavy selling of bank stocks, stockbrokers said.The exchange was closed yesterday for Idul Adha, the Islamic Day of Sacrifice.

Man gets int'l patent for pump

Man gets int'l patent for pump KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A retired elementary school teacher in Sika, Flores, has received international acclaim for his water pump, an invention now registered at The Hague patent office.

New agreement set to be signed today

New agreement set to be signed today JAKARTA (JP): The government is expected to announce the details of its newly revised agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the monthly cabinet meeting today.

Painters to hold festival in Ubud

Painters to hold festival in Ubud DENPASAR, Bali: About 50 Indonesian painters will take part in a two-week exhibition in Ubud at the Rudana Museum and Gallery, 20 kilometers northeast of here, to celebrate the Indonesian Year of the Arts.

Agung urges transparency in SEA Games sticker sales

Agung urges transparency in SEA Games sticker sales JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Agung Laksono urged the 19th SEA Games (SEAG) underwriting consortium Monday to immediately settle its debts and to be more transparent over its Rp 64 billion deficit.

BASF posts $54m in sales

BASF posts $54m in sales JAKARTA (JP): BASF Indonesia booked Rp 463 billion (US$54.4 million) in total sales for 1997, an increase of 15 percent from 1996.The company, however, did not provide any other income figures.

Japan considering $1b loan for Indonesia

Japan considering $1b loan for Indonesia TOKYO (Reuters): Japan is considering extending US$1 billion in aid to Indonesia in the form of untied loans to help get the country out of its economic crisis, the Export-Import Bank of Japan said yesterday.

Mahathir defends harsh sentence

Mahathir defends harsh sentence KUALA LUMPUR (AP): An 18-month jail term for an opposition member of Parliament has not undermined free speech and democracy, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.He stressed that justice should be meted out fairly to opposition members as well as government...

Economic reform plus

Economic reform plusFrom MerdekaA clean government that commands respect is the dream of the entire Indonesian nation, a people with a strong sense of morality and ethics. Efforts must continue to be made to see such a government become a reality.

Fire guts 30 houses in North Jakarta

Fire guts 30 houses in North Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Fire gutted 30 houses in Jembatan Batu slum area, Pinangsia subdistrict, North Jakarta, on the Islamic Day of Sacrifice yesterday.There were no casualties.

Moslems observe Idul Adha rite with passion

Moslems observe Idul Adha rite with passion JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Moslems gathered in mosques, open fields, schools and office compounds yesterday to say the Idul Adha (Islamic Day of Sacrifice) prayers.

Obituary

Obituary The governor of the Police College, Maj. Gen. Syech Tarigan, died yesterday afternoon at the age of 53.Tarigan had been treated for some time at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.Antara quoted National Police spokesman Brig. Gen.