Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 July 1998

43 articles found

KKN in state enterprises

KKN in state enterprisesFrom Bisnis IndonesiaWith reference to a report in Bisnis Indonesia, June 20, on supplies of goods and services undertaken by state enterprises (BUMNs), I am of the opinion that not all BUMNs are ready to receive complaints from the community as regards mark-up practices in...

Merpati to lease two routes

Merpati to lease two routes JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airline Merpati Nusantara Airlines plans to lease its Denpasar-Perth and Denpasar-Melbourne routes to Orient Thai of Thailand.Merpati spokesman Tondo Widodo said here yesterday Merpati could no longer serve the two routes because it had returned...

RI markets strengthen on regional rally

RI markets strengthen on regional rally JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian financial markets strengthened yesterday, boosted by high expectations across the region over a new Japanese economic stimulus package designed to lift the regional market.

Asian women and western partners

Asian women and western partners After reading the letter written to Kompas by Hertien K. Surtikanti that was reprinted in The Jakarta Post on June 29, I am, as an Indonesian married to an expatriate, very angry with what has been written.

Semen Gresik deal to be completed by weekend: Official

Semen Gresik deal to be completed by weekend: Official JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations on the sale of parts of the government's 65 percent stake in cement producer PT Semen Gresik to two foreign firms are expected to be completed this weekend, an official said.

Stirling mulls Indonesia Camar oil field plans

Stirling mulls Indonesia Camar oil field plans SYDNEY (Reuters): Oil and gas group Stirling Resources NL said yesterday funds from its recently announced rights issue would go to fund development of its Camar oil field interests in Indonesia.

Soeharto 'using wealth as shield'

Soeharto 'using wealth as shield' NEW YORK (Reuters): Former Indonesian president Soeharto has been maneuvering to reestablish a political power-base to shield his family's substantial financial fortune from scrutiny by future governments, the New York Times said yesterday.

Rethinking our development strategy

Rethinking our development strategy The national economy is sliding ever deeper into an abyss filled with difficulties. It is proving very difficult to turn the tide or control the pace of the fall. All this is happening because those who have the power to do so are not united in their resolve to...

Chuan sees more economic hurdles ahead

Chuan sees more economic hurdles ahead BANGKOK (Reuters): Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday his battered country still faced economic hurdles one year after the float of its currency, a move that sparked its worst economic crisis in decades.

Ship captain drowns

Ship captain drowns JAKARTA (JP): The captain of a fishing ship, Sarip, 45, drowned some 60 nautical miles from Sunda Kelapa Port in North Jakarta early Wednesday after jumping into the sea to avoid attack by pirates.

Gigi releases latest album 'Kilas Balik'

Gigi releases latest album 'Kilas Balik'By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): A vocalist and three musicians went up to a villa in the Puncak, West Java, and locked themselves in for three days.The result?Kilas Balik (Flashback), the fifth album released by the pop group Gigi, which hit the shops last...

Asian shares rally on Japan clean-up plan

Asian shares rally on Japan clean-up plan SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian markets marked the first anniversary of the start of the regional financial crisis with strong rallies yesterday as Japan approved a key plan aimed at cleaning up its debt-ridden banking system.

Leasing Batam Island

Leasing Batam Island The concept of leasing Batam Island to safe economy as appeared on page 4 of The Jakarta Post on June 20 could possibly be the most innovative suggestion in healing our economic woes ever tabled. Before we howl "neo-colonialism", consider the possibilities in financial terms.

40 ABRI personnel questioned in missing activists probe

40 ABRI personnel questioned in missing activists probe SURABAYA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif said here yesterday that the National Military Police had questioned 40 ABRI members for their alleged involvement in the abduction of activists.

Malaysia 'still attractive'

Malaysia 'still attractive' KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that his country remains attractive to "serious investors", even if international fund managers appear to be giving it a miss.

17 bodies still missing off Lombok

17 bodies still missing off Lombok LOMBOK TIMUR, West Nusa Tenggara: Search and rescue teams as of yesterday morning had recovered 25 bodies from the ill-fated Bahana Nusantara ferry which sank in the Alas Straits on June 25.

Habibie to chair Golkar's board of patrons meeting

Habibie to chair Golkar's board of patrons meeting JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie, in his capacity as the executive chairman of Golkar's board of patrons, will chair a board meeting this evening at the political organization's headquarters on Jl.

Workers demand minister to quit

Workers demand minister to quit JAKARTA (JP): Three hundred workers dismissed or laid-off from 22 companies in the Greater Jakarta area demonstrated again yesterday, demanding that Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris step down for failing to help them.

Navy targets illegal fishing

Navy targets illegal fishing PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The commander of the Western Fleet, Vice Adm Mudjito, said that ships under his command have so far apprehended 168 domestic and foreign fishing vessels this year.

Maxus delays 20% oil output

Maxus delays 20% oil output SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): To help meet Indonesia's pledge to cut crude oil production by 100,000 barrels a day, Maxus Southeast Sumatra Inc has delayed indefinitely a potential 20 percent increase in its gross production to 180,000 barrels per day (bpd), a Jakarta-based...

Funds released for gifted students

Funds released for gifted students JAKARTA: Aetna Life Indonesia is providing a scholarship program called "Aetna Siswa" to help top ranking university students cope with the rising cost of studying.The program kicks off with scholarships to 30 students from three universities in Java.

ABRI's sociopolitical role should be regulated: Analyst

ABRI's sociopolitical role should be regulated: Analyst JAKARTA (JP): A military observer suggested yesterday that the Armed Forces' (ABRI) controversial sociopolitical role be regulated in a decree of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest law-making body.

Balai Pustaka not to raise book prices, says official

Balai Pustaka not to raise book prices, says official JAKARTA (JP): Despite soaring paper prices, the state-owned publisher Balai Pustaka has no intention of increasing text book prices for the upcoming academic year, its top executive said yesterday.

Number of poor people hits 79.4m

Number of poor people hits 79.4m JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesians living below the poverty line has soared to 79.4 million, about 40 percent of Indonesia's population, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said yesterday.BPS chief Suwito Sugito said that the figures would increase to 95.

Hospital employees urge fair recruitment

Hospital employees urge fair recruitment BOGOR (JP): At least 100 employees of Bogor Mental Hospital demonstrated at the hospital compound Wednesday, protesting the management's recruitment scheme as unfair and welfare facilities as poor.

Entrepreneurs seek government safety guarantee

Entrepreneurs seek government safety guarantee JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie received a strong message from the business community yesterday that the government must ensure the safety of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs and punish the perpetrators of the May riots if it wishes to see a full...

Govt allows direct overseas recruitment

Govt allows direct overseas recruitment JAKARTA (JP): Facing the explosive unemployment problem, the government has allowed foreign employers to directly recruit Indonesian workers, a breakthrough which local labor suppliers see as a threat to their business.

Language democratization a must

Language democratization a mustBy A. Chaedar Alwasilah JAKARTA (JP): Since Soeharto's downfall people have been noisily calling for democratization in all walks of life. Protesters now enjoy freedom of speech, which was absent for the last three decades in the country.

Youths dispersed by security forces

Youths dispersed by security forces JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Security officers dispersed hundreds of youths staging a demonstration demanding independence for Irian Jaya at the provincial legislative building here yesterday morning.

Airlines owe $30m to Pertamina

Airlines owe $30m to Pertamina JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina's president Soegianto has said Pertamina is owed over US$30 million by the Garuda, Merpati and Sempati airlines for late payment of aviation fuel.He said Garuda owed Pertamina Rp 103 billion and $12.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 2, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 425 -25 2,500 AHAP Insurance 575 0 0 Alter Abadi 475 -25 141,000 Alumindo Light Metal 325 -25 10,000...

Rights activists blast bill on street protests

Rights activists blast bill on street protests JAKARTA (JP): Leading human rights campaigners have dismissed a bill on street protests as the government's bid to restrict citizens' rights to freely express ideas rather than a serious effort to respect freedom of expression.

Glodok computer vendors open new business

Glodok computer vendors open new business JAKARTA (JP): At least 200 computer vendors whose shops in Glodok, West Jakarta, were looted and burned during the mid-May riots are back in business, albeit with scant capital and stocks.

Food for thought

Food for thought The government must be commended for launching the crash program this month to provide rice at a heavily subsidized price to millions of poor people who are most vulnerable to food shortages.

Indonesian 'sinetron'

Indonesian 'sinetron' "A house, a wife and a singing bird" and "a mobile phone, Mercedes Benz and a luxurious house".When I was working with USIS in the late fifties in Surabaya, East Java, I was part of a team in the cinematography section showing films in various towns.

Sutiyoso orders immediate crackdown on pedicabs

Sutiyoso orders immediate crackdown on pedicabs JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso, who last Thursday announced he was allowing becak (pedicabs) back on the capital's streets, urged city authorities yesterday to help eliminate the man- powered vehicles.

Australian tourist arrivals increased 41% in 1997

Australian tourist arrivals increased 41% in 1997 JAKARTA (JP): The number of Australians visiting Indonesia increased 41.7 percent last year to 539,156 from 380,475 in 1996, according to the 1997 Statistical Report on Visitors to Indonesia.

Palm oil steady in Europe

Palm oil steady in Europe LONDON (Reuters): Crude palm oil prices were steady at the opening of the European vegetable oil market yesterday.Sellers were offering forward positions at the start of business with gains of around US$15 over their last offers on Tuesday.

Military police take over murder case

Military police take over murder case JAKARTA (JP): The man suspected of murdering and mutilating his own girlfriend, Air Force First Sgt. Uki Wardana, 24, was transferred to Jakarta Military Police Headquarters on Tuesday night, an official said yesterday.

OPEC oil price rise to $11.8

OPEC oil price rise to $11.8 LONDON (Reuters): The price of OPEC's basket of seven crudes rose to $11.80 a barrel on Wednesday from $11.70 on Tuesday, the OPEC news agency said quoting the OPEC Secretariat.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on July 2, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 14,200.00 15,200.00Austrian shilling 1 1,062.90 1,214.20Australian dollar 1 8,702.30 9,313.90Belgian franc 1 375.50 399.40Canadian dollar 1 9,658.

Cadres call for organizational reform in Golkar

Cadres call for organizational reform in Golkar JAKARTA (JP): Cadres of the ruling Golkar called on the political organization yesterday to comply with the reform spirit and free itself of external interference.

Regent named as suspect

Regent named as suspect UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Chief of the provincial prosecutor's office Gagoek Soebagyanto announced yesterday that Maros regent Nasrun Amrullah was officially declared a suspect in an Rp 1.4 billion corruption case last Monday.