Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 17 September 1998

67 articles found

Home industry village urges council action

Home industry village urges council action JAKARTA (JP): Businesspeople living in the small industry village of Pulogadung, East Jakarta, have urged the city council to help them obtain ownership rights to their houses.

Looking ahead to future needs

Looking ahead to future needsPT Jasa Bahari Birkart In these times of economic and political upheaval, many employees are being laid off. However, there is at least one company which thinks about its employees' welfare.

Thai banker shoots himself over debts

Thai banker shoots himself over debts BANGKOK (AP): A manager at a state-run Thai bank shot himself dead because of his mounting personal debts, police said on Wednesday.Sawang Polcharas, 38, a credit manager at the Bank of Agriculture and Cooperatives, was found dead in his office restroom with a...

New demos against Habibie

New demos against Habibie JAKARTA (JP): More students took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the soaring prices of essentials and to demand the resignation of President B.J. Habibie.Thousands of students from various colleges in the Central Java town of Purwokerto began demonstrating at their...

Vickers Ballas boosts stake in RI brokerage

Vickers Ballas boosts stake in RI brokerage SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Vickers Ballas Holdings Ltd, a Singapore stock brokerage, is increasing its stake in Indonesia, a market that much of the international brokerage industry has turned its back on.

The Soeharto fortune

The Soeharto fortune After months of clamoring for the Habibie administration to be earnest in making true its stated determination to stamp out corruption, collusion and nepotism at all levels of society, the government's announcement yesterday that it would form a team to investigate former...

Transparency sought in schoolbook tenders

Transparency sought in schoolbook tenders JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Publishers Association (Ikapi) called on the government on Wednesday to make its tenders for schoolbook projects more transparent amid growing criticism of widespread collusive practices.

Labor Party backs self-determination for East Timor

Labor Party backs self-determination for East Timor SYDNEY, Australia (AFP): East Timor's separatist movement welcomed on Wednesday a major policy shift by Australia's Labor opposition backing talks leading to self-determination for the troubled province.

Developer told to keep word on facilities

Developer told to keep word on facilities JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Pondok Pinang subdistrict in South Jakarta complained to the City Council on Wednesday that PT Metropolitan Kencana, the developing of the Pondok Indah luxury housing complex had not given them the social facilities it pledged 20...

Indonesia from a distance

Indonesia from a distance Three and a half months have passed since my wife and I left Indonesia for the colder pastures of England. In the first two months we had to live in a small hotel room in what is supposed to be the leading hotel in Cambridge (a far cry from what a cheaper hotel in Jakarta...

Sound bites

Sound bites I sincerely hope that lawyers are able to help Soekardjo Wilardjito, the adjutant of first president Sukarno. It is indeed a sad story and I do not believe he is an opportunist for publicity, as claimed by the main protagonists. He merely wants to restore his good name in his old age.E.

Calls mount for ABRI to review dual role concept

Calls mount for ABRI to review dual role concept JAKARTA (JP): Calls have mounted for the Armed Forces to abolish its dual-function concept, which has enabled it to play a major role in politics as well as in security, and to develop greater professionalism in its ranks.

Police not ready to begin investigation of Bambang

Police not ready to begin investigation of Bambang JAKARTA (JP): Police said on Wednesday that they were not ready to begin an investigation into businessman Bambang Trihatmodjo, the second son of former president Soeharto, in connection with a scandal at Bank Andromeda, which he partly controlled.

Number of poor entitled to cheap rice increases

Number of poor entitled to cheap rice increases JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has increased the number of poor families entitled to buy cheap rice through the central government's crash program beginning in October to 30,000 from the previous 23,285.

Developing an integrated company

Developing an integrated companyPT YKK Alumico Indonesia PT YKK Alumico Indonesia's core business is the manufacture of aluminum products, the main lines being aluminum profiles and finished goods comprising aluminum doors, window frames and curtain walls.

We have to take care of the shipping company, not the docks

We have to take care of the shipping company, not the docksPT Jasa Marina Indah The progress of a shipping company cannot be separated from the progress of the shipping industry because the two are related and operate side by side.

Critics invited to join reconciliation team

Critics invited to join reconciliation team JAKARTA (JP): The government will soon launch the National Reconciliation Team and invite outspoken critics, including opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, to join, according to Minister of Justice Muladi.

Rabid dogs raise alarm

Rabid dogs raise alarm MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: As many as 35,000 dogs may have to be slaughtered following the discovery of rabies by the Sikka regency administration.The Sikka health office said on Wednesday that it would begin an information campaign this week to warn all dog owners of the...

'Pos Kota', 'Kompas' still on top

'Pos Kota', 'Kompas' still on top JAKARTA (JP): Pos Kota and Kompas remain the country's top dailies with 3.1 million adult readers each, according to a survey by marketing research company PT SRI Nielsen Indonesia (ACNielsen).

Groups rush to submit draft laws to House

Groups rush to submit draft laws to House JAKARTA (JP): Private groups are rushing to submit their drafts of the new political laws to the House of Representatives (DPR), making the best of the government's failure to meet the deadline which it set itself last month.

IKI Kabel to counter slump by boosting exports to Japan

IKI Kabel to counter slump by boosting exports to Japan JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cable producer PT IKI Indah Kabel Indonesia plans to boost its exports to Japan to offset a domestic market decline in demand.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 16, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 325 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 200 -25 480,000 Alumindo Light Metal 325 0 0 Alumindo...

Zawawi admits manipulation in rice distribution

Zawawi admits manipulation in rice distribution JAKARTA (JP): The former head of the city's logistics agency (Dolog Jaya), Ahmad Zawawi, has admitted manipulation of rice distribution was rife throughout the city during his five-month tenure, police said Wednesday.

Maulani installed as new Bakin chief

Maulani installed as new Bakin chief JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung stressed the important role played by the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) in providing accurate information and analysis of developments in the nation during a ceremony to swear in a new head of...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Bali's bank notes conversion rates on Sept. 16, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,800 11,150Australian dollar 1 6,180 6,680Brunei dollar 1 6,500 7,000Swiss franc 1 7,415 8,015Deutschemark 1 6,070 6,620French franc 1 1,690 2,010Poundsterling 1 16,410...

Increasing national exports during the crisis

Increasing national exports during the crisis Monetary conditions are a major factor in the growth of exports and imports in Indonesia.Exports from both the oil and gas sector and the non-oil and gas sector for this year's January to April quarter were worth US$16.26 billion, a decrease of $1.

Aussie Navy ships to visit Indonesia

Aussie Navy ships to visit Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Three ships of the Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Hobart are scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Friday for a goodwill visit to Indonesia.HMAS Adelaide is commanded by Captain L.G.

Indonesian oil supply may increase next year

Indonesian oil supply may increase next year SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Amid economic meltdown, Indonesia's oil and gas drillers have maintained a brisk rate of activity that may increase oil supplies as much as 7 percent in 1999, according to a survey of oil companies in Indonesia by Dow Jones...

Ghalib to probe Soeharto's wealth

Ghalib to probe Soeharto's wealth JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has assigned Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib to chair a government team charged with investigating the wealth of former president Soeharto, a senior minister said on Wednesday.

Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides

Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian police moves to arrest acquaintances of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim are part of a government campaign of fear and an "omen" of more to come, a human rights group warned on Wednesday.

Power dictates whether proof of rape exists

Power dictates whether proof of rape existsBy Julia I. Suryakusuma JAKARTA (JP): "Did the mass rapes (of ethnic Chinese women) really happen?" Even before the work of the government-sponsored joint fact-finding team is completed, a number of government officials have raised this nagging question.

ABRI must become introspective

ABRI must become introspectiveFrom NeracaThe sociopolitical role played by the Armed Forces (ABRI) has until now legitimized its intervention in all areas of civil life, such as education, the economy, labor, journalism, politics, arts and culture.

Oversupply of office space taking its toll

Oversupply of office space taking its toll JAKARTA (JP): A huge oversupply of office space in the capital is forcing building owners to exercise a great deal of flexibility in quoting rates to absorb the shrinking market, according to property consultant PT Procon Indah.

Keeping commitments will get benefits

Keeping commitments will get benefitsBuyers Consolidators Ltd -- Agents: PT Natabhayu Many businesses have been forced to buy goods from other countries due to Indonesia's unstable condition, a condition which deteriorated even more because of recent riots.

Protecting our natural wealth

Protecting our natural wealth Indonesia is blessed with an exceedingly rich flora and fauna. Its tropical forest cover, all 144 million hectares of it, harbors about 25,000 species of plant -- 10 percent of all species in the world.

Basketball meet to honor Sukarno

Basketball meet to honor Sukarno JAKARTA (JP): A nine-day student basketball competition will be held in Jakarta in remembrance of the country's founding president, Sukarno.Committee chairman Ary Sudarsono said on Wednesday that 81 school and university teams from greater Jakarta area had confirmed...

Wood processing firms want limit log exports

Wood processing firms want limit log exports JAKARTA (JP): Associations representing the wood processing industry here have called on the government to limit log exports to protect local companies.Adi Warsita Adinegoro, the vice chairman of the Indonesian Forestry Society, said on Wednesday that an...

Queen to rekindle SE Asian ties

Queen to rekindle SE Asian ties BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): Britain's Queen Elizabeth will make her first visit to Southeast Asia in nearly a decade with trips to Brunei and Malaysia beginning on Thursday in what is seen as a reflection of British commitment to turmoil-wracked regional economies.

Growth and expansion in Asia

Growth and expansion in AsiaPT Samudra Petrindo Asia Increasing globalization and a move toward free market systems has forced businesses to focus on developing human resources to remain competitive.PT Samudra Petrindo Asia (SPA) has been a leader in the maritime industry precisely because it has...

Bogor poor residents get assistance from neighbors

Bogor poor residents get assistance from neighbors BOGOR (JP): At least 52 residents of Sukaresmi and Kebon Pedes villages in Tanah Sareal district can no longer afford to buy food and survive by depending on their neighbors for assistance, a district official said on Tuesday.

Habibie to watch junior rowing meet

Habibie to watch junior rowing meet JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie is scheduled to be among the spectators at the national junior rowing championship at Manado Bay in North Sulawesi next week, an Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) executive said Wednesday.

Asian crisis drags 100m into poverty

Asian crisis drags 100m into poverty BANGKOK (Reuters): Asia's poor are getting poorer.Beneath the cold statistics and headlines of the Asian crisis, a human disaster is unfolding as millions of unemployed, landless poor and dispossessed fall below the poverty line.

Bank Bali seeking to sell majority stake to foreign bank

Bank Bali seeking to sell majority stake to foreign bank SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Bank Bali, widely seen as one of a handful of big Indonesian banks that remains solid, is seeking to sell majority ownership to a foreign bank, its chief executive said.

Fire guts musical instrument shop

Fire guts musical instrument shop JAKARTA (JP): A fire gutted a musical instrument shop on Jl. Tanjung Barat Raya in Jagakarsa subdistrict, South Jakarta, on Tuesday morning, causing estimated material losses of Rp 400 million (US$36,360).

Surviving the monetary crisis

Surviving the monetary crisisPT Aneka Tambang Tbk Publicly listed mining company PT Aneka Tambang Tbk has recorded a Rp 251.81 billion net profit for this year's first semester -- a 949 percent increase over the Rp 24 billion recorded for the same period last year.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Exhibitions * Painting Exhibitions, in Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Resort, Jimbaran (Phone: 0361 701010): Images of Meditating Figures, by Jerry T, Sept. 17. * Painting Exhibitions: Cakrawala Seni, Museum Puri Lukisan - Yayasan Ratna Warta, Jl.

Soeharto probe likely to fail

Soeharto probe likely to failBy Jeffrey Winters CHICAGO, Illinois, United States (JP): Indonesia's former president Soeharto and some of his family members have been outspoken and even pugnacious in their claims that they have not amassed huge and illegal fortunes over the course of the New Order.

Asian currencies mixed on capital control fears

Asian currencies mixed on capital control fears SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies were mixed against the U.S. dollar in late trading Wednesday, as fear of capital controls continued to permeate the market, traders and economists said.

10 to be tried for riots

10 to be tried for riots LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh: The North Aceh Police Department has prepared dossiers on 10 people suspected of playing a role in last month's devastating riots, Antara reported on Wednesday.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film: Thundercats 3:05 Orchestra Film 3:30 Science World 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Kita 5:00 Arabic Lessons 5:30 TV Series: The Man from Uncle 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Documentary: Rona Nusantara 6:15...

Laudable attitude

Laudable attitude Some time ago a group of Chinese business people in Semarang denounced and condemned the re-export of government subsidized rice meant for distribution to the hungry masses. It was carried out by Chinese entrepreneurs.

RI, S. Korea studying oil barter deal

RI, S. Korea studying oil barter deal JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is currently studying the possibility of bartering its crude oil and natural gas with South Korean commodities.Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said on Wednesday his ministry and the Korean industry and trade ministry...

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Film * French Film: Gazon Maudit, at CCCL - French Cultural Center, Jl. Darmokali 10 (Phone: 5678639), 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Sept. 21-25. * Documentary Film: in CCCL - French Cultural Center, 6 p.m., Sept. 26.

Challenges, opportunities in RI shipping industry

Challenges, opportunities in RI shipping industryFormer Director General of Sea Transportation, Soentoro The problems faced by Indonesian companies at the moment include a decrease in capital and the presence of competition.

Debt disputes best dealt with out-of-court: Lawyer

Debt disputes best dealt with out-of-court: Lawyer JAKARTA (JP): Out-of-court settlements are the best way to deal with debt disputes, according to legal experts.Lawyer Rasyim Wiraatmadja said here on Wednesday that taking debt claims to the commercial court, even though the new bankruptcy law...

Chinese-Indonesians plead for end to discrimination

Chinese-Indonesians plead for end to discrimination SURABAYA (JP): Some 200 local Chinese-Indonesians met with members of the Supreme Advisory Council here on Wednesday to plead for the abolition of government policies which discriminated against them.

Troops remain on alert in Bagansiapi-api

Troops remain on alert in Bagansiapi-api JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of security personnel were on standby in the fishing town of Bagansiapi-api in Riau province on Wednesday after a riot erupted there the previous day.Bengkalis Police chief Lt. Col.

Wismoyo promises Rp 50m bonus for Asiad gold winners

Wismoyo promises Rp 50m bonus for Asiad gold winners JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar offered on Wednesday a Rp 50 million cash bonus to the Indonesian winner of each gold medal taken in the upcoming Asian Games.

Ministers see valuable lesson from Clinton's affair

Ministers see valuable lesson from Clinton's affair JAKARTA (JP): The sex scandal involving U.S. President Bill Clinton may have little impact on Indonesia, but several Cabinet members nevertheless see it as a valuable lesson in leadership and integrity.

Hopewell suspends RI power project

Hopewell suspends RI power project HONG KONG (AFP): Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings Ltd. said Wednesday it had suspended a huge power project in Indonesia which may require it to make a provision of as much as US$420 million.

Neglected land reaches 671 ha

Neglected land reaches 671 ha TANGERANG (JP): At least 671 hectares, or 31 percent of the 2,158 hectares of land appropriated by developers here since 1993, are still empty, an official said on Wednesday.The head of the Tangerang office of the National Land Agency, Satmodjo S.W.

Young composers demonstrate talents at 'reform' festival

Young composers demonstrate talents at 'reform' festivalBy Zoel Mistortoify SURAKARTA (JP): Some people in Surakarta (Solo), which was severely damaged by riots in May, could for awhile forget about the bitter incident when a special cultural event was held here.From Sept. 5 to Sept.

Market jittery on news of fresh unrest

Market jittery on news of fresh unrest JAKARTA (JP): The local financial market was still under pressure on Wednesday following news of fresh rioting in Sumatra and intensifying demonstrations in the country's capital, according to currency dealers and stockbrokers.

Mission in national development

Mission in national developmentPT Samudera Indonesia In the Indonesian maritime world, the name PT Samudera Indonesia is famous. Besides its great name, the company is also known to have international lines and provide world-class services.

MPR vows to restore its tarnished image

MPR vows to restore its tarnished image JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has acknowledged its past weaknesses and poor image, and has vowed to continue to empower itself so it can fight for democratization.

Notorious crook shot to death

Notorious crook shot to death TANGERANG (JP): Local police detectives in Tangerang shot dead one of the town's most wanted armed robbers in an early morning raid on Tuesday, an officer said.Greater Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col.

Dolog denies auctioning rice

Dolog denies auctioning rice YOGYAKARTA: The Provincial Logistics Agency (Dolog) denied on Wednesday traders' accusations that it had auctioned its rice supplies to the highest bidders.Several traders complained that they had to pay as much as Rp 2,800 a kilogram for Dolog rice, compared to the...