Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 9 July 1998

47 articles found

KL drops beer cash after protest

KL drops beer cash after protest KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Predominantly Moslem Malaysia, bowing to pressures from Moslem-led groups, has dropped Danish brewery Carlsberg as a major sponsor of the Commonwealth Games starting in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Akbar ready for top Golkar post

Akbar ready for top Golkar post JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on the eve of Golkar's extraordinary congress that he was ready to join the race for the chairmanship of the ruling political organization.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 8, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 375 0 0 AHAP Insurance 575 0 0 Alter Abadi 475 0 145,000 Alumindo Light Metal 325 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa...

Ginandjar to meet Greenspan

Ginandjar to meet Greenspan WASHINGTON (Dow Jones): Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Indonesia's senior economics minister, is tentatively scheduled to meet with U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan as well as other officials when he travels to Washington today and tomorrow, Indonesian embassy...

KKN beast still wagging its tail

KKN beast still wagging its tail The hectic chase, not without much fanfare, alas, of people from the former administration era, will be like a bicycle trip into the jungles of the Amazon. It will be, at least as I see it, a long hazardous venture which probably is more easily started than...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on July 8, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 14,500.00 15,500.00Austrian shilling 1 1,110.70 1,258.10Australian dollar 1 9,056.50 9,609.90Belgian franc 1 392.90 414.30Canadian dollar 1 9,986.

INRO keeps eye on weak world rubber prices

INRO keeps eye on weak world rubber prices KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO) said yesterday it has a fund of 90-100 million ringgit ($21.6 million-$24 million) for immediate use to defend weak prices.

Violence erupts in KL over water

Violence erupts in KL over water KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Two people were injured when a squabble over collecting water erupted into a fight between residents, some of them armed with knives and machetes, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Indonesian banks to take over debtor property assets

Indonesian banks to take over debtor property assets JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian banks will soon become the reluctant owners of trillions of rupiah worth of property assets, as defaulting borrowers sidestep their obligations and forego their ownership responsibilities, a property consultant says.

Govt should sell all its assets: Kadin

Govt should sell all its assets: Kadin JAKARTA (JP): The government should sell all its stakes in state-owned companies to foreign investors to gain more funds to restore the country's economy, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) suggests.

Human rights body beefs up legal status

Human rights body beefs up legal status JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights is working to strengthen its status to be a more independent and authoritative institution, its chairman said yesterday.

25 suspected criminals netted in street operations

25 suspected criminals netted in street operations JAKARTA (JP): The police have netted at least 25 suspected criminals, including Armed Forces (ABRI) members, in a series of operations held over the past week here.The suspects had five guns, 15 sharp weapons and 30 vehicles in their possession.

Islanders refuse to be resettled

Islanders refuse to be resettled UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of inhabitants of Laelae Island staged a demonstration at the provincial council compound to protest against the Ujungpandang mayoralty's plan to move them off the island and develop it into a tourist area.

RI's records on child rights below average

RI's records on child rights below average JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations report yesterday ranked Indonesia's record on the rights of children and female adolescents as below average for the East/South Asia and Pacific region.

HK investors look at Bank Tiara shares

HK investors look at Bank Tiara shares JAKARTA (JP): Several investors from Hong Kong have shown an interest in buying a stake in the financially troubled Bank Tiara, the bank's president said yesterday.

Good prospects in forestry sector

Good prospects in forestry sectorFrom Bisnis IndonesiaWith reference to the editorial in Bisnis Indonesia of June 30, 1998, titled A matter of confidence, allow me to express the following opinion.While it is not my intention to belittle the significance of the role played by exporters of textile...

Mahathir's new book launched

Mahathir's new book launched KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's new book on Malaysian politics and economics has been launched by former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in London, according to news reports.

Southeast Asia to speed up securitiztion process

Southeast Asia to speed up securitiztion processBy Lynn Adler NEW YORK (Reuters): Southeast Asia and securitization will be intertwined in 1999, experts predict.Unable to access or afford other traditional funds, cash- strapped companies and government agencies there are feverishly crafting deals...

Bulog needs $2.7b to import foodstuffs

Bulog needs $2.7b to import foodstuffs JAKARTA (JP): The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has announced it will need about US$2.7 billion in soft credit from Bank Indonesia to import essential commodities in the current 1998/1999 fiscal year.

Harmoko installs new assembly members

Harmoko installs new assembly members JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Harmoko swore in 27 new members yesterday, 24 of whom represent the dominant political group Golkar.

Jepara riot under investigation

Jepara riot under investigation PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Central Java deputy police chief Brig. Gen. Anshadi Mbai said here yesterday that an investigation was being conducted to find the mastermind behind the unrest which hit Jepara on Tuesday.

Merapi volcano alert issued

Merapi volcano alert issued YOGYAKARTA: An alert has been issued after increased volcanic activity was been recorded inside Mount Merapi, one of the world's most active volcanoes which is located north of here, an official here said.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Music and entertainment * Grand Hyatt Bali, Nusa Dua (Phone: 0361-771234): - Pasar Senggol at 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Legong Dance, Saturday, Arjuna Wiwaha Dance, Sunday, Balinese Dance Parade, Monday, Genjekan Dance, Tuesday, Jegog Dance, Wednesday, Ramayana Dance, Thursday, Janger...

Observers look for new faces in Golkar race

Observers look for new faces in Golkar race JAKARTA (JP): While Golkar's extraordinary Congress will likely be dominated by familiar faces, demands for a new and younger figure to chair the ruling political organization's executive body were voiced yesterday.Political observer Muhammad A.S.

Kubota boosts RI production

Kubota boosts RI production TOKYO (Nikkei): Kubota Corp plans to double its production of all-purpose engines in Indonesia by transferring one of its production lines in Japan to its subsidiary, P.T. Kubota Indonesia, in Semarang, The Nikkei Industrial Daily reported in its yesterday edition.

Chase optimistic on RI debt exchange program

Chase optimistic on RI debt exchange program NEW YORK (Dow Jones): Chase Manhattan Bank Corp. will tender all Indonesian bank debt eligible for exchange for new loans as part of the country's sweeping debt restructuring program, the chief credit officer of the U.S. bank said Tuesday.

RI's foreign debt soars to $138 billion

RI's foreign debt soars to $138 billion JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's foreign obligations rose by 4 percent to US$138 billion as of the end of March, up from $131.7 billion in February, the central bank reported yesterday.The rise was caused by a $6.

Sjafrie joins villagers in first corn harvest

Sjafrie joins villagers in first corn harvest BEKASI (JP): Outgoing Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin marked the first corn harvest of a farming project jointly sponsored by his personnel and farmers of Ragem Manunggal village in Setu district here yesterday morning.

Toyota sees exports rising

Toyota sees exports rising TOKYO (Reuters): Toyota Motor Corp said yesterday it expected exports from its plants in four Southeast Asian nations to rise to 36 billion yen in 1998 from 29 billion yen in 1997, with further growth to 80 billion yen expected by 2000.

Rupiah sinks to 15,000 and stock prices slide

Rupiah sinks to 15,000 and stock prices slide JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah sank yesterday past the 15,000 level to the U.S. dollar, and stock prices dipped 2.3 percent over profit taking after a week of gains.

A matter of will

A matter of will Many people assumed that the economy would automatically recover as soon as the government of President B.J. Habibie won the approval of major aid donors for its handling of the economy. It is now clear they could not have been more wrong.

Time for ASEAN to act on Burma

Time for ASEAN to act on Burma ASEAN will be unhappy if tension between Burma's dictators and its legally elected democratic government escalates into violence, says Domingo Siazon, the foreign minister of the Philippines.

S. Korea buys 500 tons of Indonesian tin

S. Korea buys 500 tons of Indonesian tin SEOUL (Reuter): South Korea's Supply Administration (SAROK) yesterday bought 500 metric tons of Indonesian tin from LG International Corp, a SAROK official said.

Alleged murderers of Japanese man nabbed

Alleged murderers of Japanese man nabbed JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested three of four men wanted in the murder of a Japanese national in a taxi robbery in January.City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Herman bin Murni, 29, Bakri bin Alyas, 31 and Dede Halimi Andika, 26, were arrested...

Flight attendants to get severance pay

Flight attendants to get severance pay JAKARTA (JP): Bouraq and Mandala airlines agreed yesterday to give severance pay to dozens of dismissed female flight attendants in line with legal requirements, the employees' lawyers said.

New Order still alive and kicking

New Order still alive and kicking Some policies instituted by the government recently are reminiscent of those of the New Order. Political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono zeros in on the issue. JAKARTA (JP): "'The New Order is dead. Long live the New Order'.

Prolong drought may hamper RI food supply: FAO

Prolong drought may hamper RI food supply: FAO JAKARTA (JP): The state of the food supply in Indonesia continues to deteriorate and could worsen further as the August rice harvest may fall below initial predictions, a United Nations agency said yesterday.

CPO prices show little change in London

CPO prices show little change in London LONDON (Reuters): Crude palm oil (CPO) prices were little changed at midday yesterday on the European vegetable oil market, traders said.Only Aug/Sep CPO was offered at US$670 a ton cif., $2.50 under Tuesday's closing price.

Muhammadiyah looks to establish party

Muhammadiyah looks to establish party SEMARANG (JP): Amien Rais, chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, has said he will ask his deputy, Syafii Maarif, to head a political party after it was evident that there was an enormous desire from members of the organization to establish one.

City to be pedicab-free again by end of July

City to be pedicab-free again by end of July JAKARTA (JP): Public order officers and members of the security forces will take to the streets next week to crack down on pedicabs to ensure the city is becak-free once again by the end of the month, officials said yesterday.

Government forms team to help assaulted women in May riots

Government forms team to help assaulted women in May riots JAKARTA (JP): The government has set up a special team to help women who were sexually assaulted during the May riots, Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah said here yesterday.

'Report bad schools' to govt

'Report bad schools' to govt JAKARTA (JP): A deputy governor called yesterday on parents, whose children attend state junior or senior high schools here to report illegal charges or fees that are set higher than the maximum official rate.

PLN considers rescheduling Paiton projects

PLN considers rescheduling Paiton projects JAKARTA (JP): The government-sponsored committee in charge of restructuring the state electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is considering rescheduling two giant power plant projects in Probolinggo, East Java.

Building to be sold

Building to be sold According to media reports, the Timor Building, which is owned by PT Timor Putra Nasional (PT TPN) and located on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, will be sold to a state-owned enterprise by its owner Hutomo Mandala Putra (Tommy Soeharto) because Presidential Decree No.

Four arrested for robbery

Four arrested for robbery BEKASI (JP): The police have arrested four members of a gang of six people they suspect robbed a yarn factory run by PT Daido Cahaya Utama in the Bantar Gebang area on June 29.The robbers escaped with a truck of yarn worth Rp 150 million ($10,500).Bekasi police chief Lt.

Labor export becomes favored alternative

Labor export becomes favored alternative JAKARTA (JP): The government regards labor export as a favored alternative to help ease rising unemployment in the country, Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris said yesterday.

Crude prices move up

Crude prices move up SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian crude prices moved up yesterday, supported by expectations of higher utility demand, as the hot weather prompts increased use of air-conditioners, traders said.