Archive: 2 September 1998
53 articles found
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) conversion rates on Sept. 1, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hit-and-run victim hospitalized
Hit-and-run victim hospitalized JAKARTA (JP): A 16-year-old student fell victim to a hit-and- run accident on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, on Sunday night. The victim, identified as Hifzi Basah, sustained severe leg injuries after being hit by a speeding sedan at about 9:30 p.m., Antara reported. Hifzi, a resident of Jl. Pedurenan Mesjid III in Karet Kuningan district, was rushed to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for medical treatment.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Dharmala defaults on samurai bonds
Dharmala defaults on samurai bonds TOKYO (Bloomberg): Dharmala Intiutama International BV, part of an Indonesian financial conglomerate, has defaulted on 15 billion yen (US$116 million) of samurai bonds, according to the six banks that distribute payments to investors. The Dutch financing subsidiary of Indonesian insurance and financial services conglomerate Dharmala Intiutama is only the second-ever to default on a public issue of samurai bonds.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Kontras urges fresh probe into 1989 Lampung incident
Kontras urges fresh probe into 1989 Lampung incident JAKARTA (JP): The government was strongly urged Tuesday to reinvestigate the Lampung incident in February 1989, which resulted in scores of deaths. Munir, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), who demanded the reinvestigation, said the death toll could be nearly eight times higher than the Armed Forces' (ABRI) account.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Golf course developer faces first bankruptcy
Golf course developer faces first bankruptcy JAKARTA (JP): Construction firms PT Jaya Obayashi and PT Nusa Raya Cipta filed Tuesday the first bankruptcy claim in the newly established commercial court in Central Jakarta against a golf course and real estate developer.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
W. Kalimantan home to a potpouri of Chinese-Indonesians
W. Kalimantan home to a potpouri of Chinese-Indonesians By Edi Petebang PONTIANAK (JP): "God creates, God looks after," said Lao Seng, a 50-year-old iced fruit-cocktail drink vendor. This principle ensures him and his family a harmonious life. He maintains that right from the womb, ethnic Chinese have been taught to work hard. Later on, if this hard work does not bear fruit, they have to take it as their fate.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt reviews deals with Soeharto's kin
Govt reviews deals with Soeharto's kin JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Tuesday that it is reviewing and severing many business contracts signed by its agencies and enterprises with children of former president Soeharto and his crony Muhammad (Bob) Hasan. However the government has resisted public pressure to take over huge funds managed by five charity foundations chaired by Soeharto, stressing that the money belonged to the foundations and not to the former president.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Southeast Asia power utility reform essential: Consultant
Southeast Asia power utility reform essential: Consultant SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Policy-makers in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia should put restructuring of their state-owned power utilities at the top of their agendas to address their severe payment crises, an industry consultant said on Tuesday.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Office project postponed
Office project postponed TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang mayoralty has been forced to postpone the construction of an administration office project worth Rp 18 billion (US$1.6 million) due to a lack of funds, an official said on Monday. The mayoralty's spokesman, Harry Mulya Zein, said the project, located in Tanah Tinggi subdistrict, was originally scheduled to be completed in November.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Subic port chief loses court appeal
Subic port chief loses court appeal MANILA (Reuters): The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously rejected an appeal by ousted Subic freeport chief Richard Gordon to stay on in his post, and the presidential palace indicated it might use force to evict him.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rioting and looting continue for second day in North Aceh
Rioting and looting continue for second day in North Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Rioting and looting continued in Lhokseumawe on Tuesday, the second consecutive day of unrest in the Aceh town which erupted on Monday only hours after the second batch of Armed Forces (ABRI) troops withdrew from the area.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt approves sultan's candidacy
Govt approves sultan's candidacy JAKARTA (JP): The government has caved in to overwhelming public sentiment and agreed that Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X will be the lone candidate for Yogyakarta's special region governorship. "This decision is based on the people's wish, though actually there must be five candidates for such an election," Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said Tuesday after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Bina Graha presidential office.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Formula Asia final at Sentul
Formula Asia final at Sentul JAKARTA (JP): The Sentul circuit in Bogor, West Java, is to host the fourth and final leg of the Formula Asia motor racing championship series on Sunday. Local top drivers including Chandra Ali, Moreno Soeprapto, Stanley Iriawan, Harry Dharma Manoppo, Fino Saksono and Tonny Darmawan have all confirmed their participation. English driver Gary Sykes will be the only foreigner challenging the local drivers for the championship trophy.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI education system needs a revolution
RI education system needs a revolution By Nirwan Idrus This is the first of two articles on Indonesian education. JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono recently outlined his eight or so basic competencies he would like to see adopted during his term of office. There is no prize for guessing that "the three Rs" (reading, writing and arithmetic) are included on the minister's list.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ethnic Chinese refugees flock to W. Kalimantan
Ethnic Chinese refugees flock to W. Kalimantan PONTIANAK (JP): Since May, many vehicles with Jakarta license plates, from pickups to sedans, have become a common sight in the streets of various towns in West Kalimantan. Also since May, inhabitants of the province have increased due to ethnic Chinese from Greater Jakarta, Surabaya, Surakarta (Solo) and other cities in Java fleeing here. They can be found not only in the provincial capital of Pontianak but also in small towns and villages.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Local students stage French play at Erasmus Huis
Local students stage French play at Erasmus Huis By Izabel Deuff JAKARTA (JP): As a French play is rare here, the performance of Le caillou de M.Pierre (M. Pierre's Stone), by Pierre-Yves Millot, at Erasmus Huis on Thursday and Friday deserves attention. It is more noticeable since some of the playwright's works, quite unknown in his country, have been staged worldwide, and now, one of his plays will be performed by an Indonesian troupe.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bill on banks
Bill on banks From Neraca A bill on banks will be discussed shortly in the House of Representatives. An interesting side of this bill is that foreign companies will be allowed to own 100 percent of a local bank's shares. It is hoped that in the near future, many foreign banks will be operating in Indonesia. This will help to alleviate the bad effects of the economic crisis. However, the bill should block the tide of banking crimes. One of which is money laundering.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
New foreign investors bidding for BCA: Official
New foreign investors bidding for BCA: Official JAKARTA (JP): Several new foreign investors are currently in a bidding process to acquire the country's largest private bank, Bank Central Asia (BCA), a government official has said. Chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Glenn S. Yusuf said on Tuesday that the bidders were not among those who had previously shown an interest in buying a stake in the bank because those people, including the Sultan of Brunei, had backed off.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 1, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 325 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 225 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 250 -50 5,500 Alumindo Perkasa 225 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 150 0 40,000 Aneka Tambang 1,375 -125 14,626,500 Anwar Sierad 50 0 65,000 Apac Centertex Corp.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Prabowo on list of rising stars shot down in their prime
Prabowo on list of rising stars shot down in their prime By Lela E. Madjiah This is the second of two articles exploring the history of Indonesia's fallen officers. JAKARTA (JP): During the Soeharto era, many fine military officers were removed from their positions for opposing Soeharto's policies. The men who first helped Soeharto rise to power and were dubbed the three kingmakers by Michael R.J. Vatikiotis in his book Indonesian Politics Under Suharto -- Lt. Gen.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Natuna gas pipeline contracts pending
Natuna gas pipeline contracts pending JAKARTA (JP): Contracts for the development of the 640- kilometer subsea gas pipeline which will be used to transmit natural gas from the western part of Natuna Islands to Singapore will be awarded in November, a Singapore's official said here yesterday. "We hope to award the contracts as soon as possible.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
How graft rears its ugly head in aid projects
How graft rears its ugly head in aid projects By Donna K. Woodward This is the first of two articles on corruption in international aid organizations. MEDAN (JP): Shortly after Indonesia's liberation from the Soeharto reign, allegation after allegation of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) appeared in the press. Headlines scream: "Residents complain of KKN in Bupati X's office" or "Workers demand an end to KKN in PEMDA Y".
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Emil leads social safety-net program
Emil leads social safety-net program JAKARTA (JP): A private program to coordinate the distribution of funds for rural societies' non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was established here on Tuesday. The Community Recovery Program (CRP) was set up by a number of NGO and community organization leaders to help the most needy with food security, basic social services, job creation opportunities and income generation.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ex-employees seeking justice
Ex-employees seeking justice We are writing this letter in order to express our deep concern over Ministry of Manpower regulations which are not implemented accordingly and adhered to by PT Servcorp Indonesia. This letter is specifically addressed to the management of Servcorp and also to the clients of Servcorp. We are former employees of Servcorp who have been mistreated during our employment period and have been forced to terminate our positions without any good reason whatsoever.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
UGM, Kikas help small firms
UGM, Kikas help small firms YOGYAKARTA (Antara): The U.S Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kikas) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) on Monday agreed to develop small and medium industries (SMIs) in and around Yogyakarta province by first conducting training courses for the entrepreneurs concerned.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Termites invade Estrada's palace
Termites invade Estrada's palace MANILA (AFP): Termites are stubbornly preventing President Joseph Estrada from moving into his presidential palace quarters two months into his presidency, he revealed on Monday. The unwanted guests have been eating their way through the Malacanang palace guest house despite the efforts of pest control teams and carpenters who started renovating the building in the weeks before Estrada was sworn into office.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tennis star Yayuk longing for a baby: Spouse
Tennis star Yayuk longing for a baby: Spouse JAKARTA (JP): The long delayed plan to have a baby has prompted national tennis queen Yayuk Basuki to set a firm date for retirement next year, her husband and coach Suharyadi said on Monday. Suharyadi said Yayuk had postponed becoming pregnant for the sake of her career since they married in January 1994. "What Yayuk thinks is the best will always be the best for both of us.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Trade in second-hand goods hit hard by economic crisis
Trade in second-hand goods hit hard by economic crisis By Emmy Fitri JAKARTA (JP): Traders at the Urip Sumohardjo flea market in East Jakarta have enjoyed a surge in the number of people looking to sell used goods since the economic crisis first broke last year, but unfortunately they are finding eager customers a touch harder to come by.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
PLN comes up short on orders for new projects
PLN comes up short on orders for new projects JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of thousands of applications for electricity connections nationwide have been shelved indefinitely because state electricity company PLN lacks funds for the installations, the company said Tuesday. Operational director Tunggono and financial director Parno Isworo said the pending applications included 45,000 in Lampung, 20,000 in Jambi and 50,000 in Java.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Textile workers stage protest
Textile workers stage protest TANGERANG (JP): About 1,000 employees of the polyester manufacturing company PT Yasunlitex staged a protest on Jl. Daan Mogot here on Tuesday to demand welfare improvements. The workers demanded an Rp 500 increase in their monthly transport allowance from Rp 22,000 (US$2) to Rp 22,500, and an Rp 4,500 increase in their monthly meal allowance from Rp 18,000 to Rp 22,500.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Wiranto says criticism of ABRI 'unproportional and excessive'
Wiranto says criticism of ABRI 'unproportional and excessive' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Tuesday the current condemnation of the military's role in national security was no longer "proportional" and has become excessive.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Scorn heaped on national soccer team
Scorn heaped on national soccer team JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's sports community has expressed regret over blatant gamesmanship by the national soccer team during their losing Tiger Cup game against Thailand on Monday. State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono criticized the team Tuesday for tarnishing the image of national sports development and displaying unsportsmanlike behavior. "The case is a stain on our sports development.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Megawati vows to hold congress, contest election
Megawati vows to hold congress, contest election BANDUNG (JP): Undaunted by the government's continued recognition of a rival camp, Megawati Soekarnoputri of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) vowed on Tuesday she will lead her supporters at the general election next year. The popular ousted leader told a gathering of thousands of supporters here she would hold her camp's congress in October -- rather than December as previously scheduled -- to elect a new leadership.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Symposium on peace
Symposium on peace JAKARTA: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to hold a symposium on constructing peace in the region on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 here, Antara reported on Tuesday.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Search for 'Supersemar' original text still on: Akbar
Search for 'Supersemar' original text still on: Akbar JAKARTA (JP): The government has rescinded its stance on the missing March 11, 1966, document known as the Supersemar in which founding president Sukarno handed over power to then Army minister Maj. Gen. Soeharto. Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on Tuesday the government was still searching for the original document.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Policewomen celebrate their 50th anniversary
Policewomen celebrate their 50th anniversary JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's policewomen, who account for 3.44 percent of the police force's 197,400 members, celebrated their 50th anniversary at National Police Headquarters in a modest way on Tuesday. The ceremony, led by National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi, was highlighted by several activities, including a parade and a series of demonstrations of special skills by female officers.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt to pay civil servants
Govt to pay civil servants SURABAYA: A senior central government official here has firmly denied rumors that the administration would no longer be able to pay civil servants' salaries in three or four months' time. Sunarko RM, head of the Civil Servant Affairs Administration Agency (BAKN), called on the public Monday not to believe the rumors and said the government would pay the salaries as usual.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah strengthens, stocks hit low
Rupiah strengthens, stocks hit low JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah broke the 11,000 barrier against the U.S. dollar to close firmer at 10,950 in moderate trading on Tuesday, but local stock prices fell 4.8 percent to touch another five-year low, currency dealers and stockbrokers said. Currency dealers said Malaysia's plan to introduce foreign exchange control measures and limited dollar-selling for the rupiah by the country's state banks had provided more leeway for the rupiah to move ahead Tuesday.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bali facing challenge to keep its harmonious race relations
Bali facing challenge to keep its harmonious race relations By Putu Wirata JAKARTA (JP): After the May riots in Jakarta and Surakarta (Solo), many Indonesians, mainly those of Chinese descent, looked to Bali as a safe place to live. They went in great numbers to the island to buy houses, to look for business opportunities, and at the same to seek protection for themselves and their families.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Garuda to lay off 3,000 employees
Garuda to lay off 3,000 employees JAKARTA (JP): National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will lay off at least 3,000 of its nearly 13,000 employees as early as next month as part of a massive restructuring program, the airline's president, Robby Djohan, said on Tuesday. Robby said the dismissals, starting in early October, would be just one of several moves designed to enable the airline to survive the deepening crisis.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Drama of RI's economic crisis
Drama of RI's economic crisis This is the second of two articles excerpted from a paper presented by former finance minister (April, 1993- March, 1998) Mar'ie Muhammad' at the Asia Research Center of Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, on Aug. 20, 1998. PERTH, Australia: Many circles believe a managed currency floating rate system accompanied by a very wide intervention band is more appropriate for developing economies, including those of Southeast Asia.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
A rude ILO awakening
A rude ILO awakening Monday's announcement of the findings of a report commissioned by the Jakarta office of the International Labor Organization (ILO) painted what is undoubtedly the grimmest picture of our economy yet published since the crisis began over one year ago. The study, conducted by local and foreign experts, said that 5.4 million workers have been laid off this year, meaning that an average of 15,000 jobs are being lost every single day.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Officer cleared of theft accusation
Officer cleared of theft accusation JAKARTA (JP): A police officer accused of stealing US$10,000 from the head of the National Police Directorate of Traffic, Brig. Gen. Ansyar Roem, early this year has been cleared of the charge and released from detention. City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Monday that his office would fully restore First Sgt. Adi's reputation within the force.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie to award scholarships
Habibie to award scholarships SEMARANG: President B.J. Habibie is scheduled to award scholarships to elementary, high school and college students in Kendal district, Central Java, on Thursday. "The head of state will also extend business loans to people from the lower-income bracket and open a market operation to sell rice at subsidized prices here," spokesman of the provincial administration, Henky Hermantoro, was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tadjus reelected Golkar chairman
Tadjus reelected Golkar chairman JAKARTA (JP): Tadjus Sobirin has been entrusted to chair Golkar's Jakarta chapter for the 1998/2003 period after being reelected in a congress which ended on Saturday night. Tadjus was first elected to lead the chapter in 1993. He told reporters after his reelection that he had no target for the next general election, which is scheduled to be held in May 1999. "There is no target because Golkar is no longer popular.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Limit bank ownership by foreigners: Golkar
Limit bank ownership by foreigners: Golkar JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar faction in the House of Representatives voiced concern on Tuesday over the government's plan to scrap foreign ownership restrictions covering the country's commercial banks. "Foreign investors can buy shares of (local) commercial banks either through direct investment or through the stock market, but their ownership should be limited," said Golkar spokesman Oke F.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police receive dossiers on six insolvent banks
Police receive dossiers on six insolvent banks JAKARTA (JP): Police have received the dossiers of six of the 16 insolvent private banks closed by the government last November for allegedly violating the country's banking laws, an official said on Tuesday. National Police Detective Corps commander Maj. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told reporters that Bank Indonesia, the central bank, had handed over the dossiers for police investigation.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Seat belt ruling to be enforced gradually
Seat belt ruling to be enforced gradually JAKARTA (JP): A seat belt regulation scheduled to take effect Sept. 17 will only be imposed on sedans and jeeps produced in or after 1984, Herman Latif, chairman of the vehicle road worthiness committee, said on Tuesday. Owners of other vehicles, including the city's public transportation fleet, produced in or after 1994 will be given a five-year grace period to install the safety devices.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Spotlight
Spotlight Photo A: Andersen Anderson Consulting ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT: Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto takes front seat in a boat with "crew members" during the launch of the Andersen Consulting Enterprise Solution Center. Behind him are Andersen's country managing partner Heru Prasetyo, general manager of PT United Tractors Soerja Handjaja, and one of the center's partners, Brian Strange. The ceremony took place on Aug. 21 at Wisma 46 - Kota BNI in Central Jakarta.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Road conditions deteriorating
Road conditions deteriorating A a resident of Ciputat, South Jakarta, I feel sad to see the deteriorating state of roads everywhere. We, the public, realize that in times like these, when money is scarce, there is no budget for repairs. We don't ask much but just make the best of it while doing our daily chores. However, something like basic maintenance of sweeping the streets, only requires a few tools and some manpower, which at this time of massive unemployment, should not be hard to find.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film: Silverhawks 3:05 TV Series: Daktari 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Teen Program: Remaja Indonesia 5:00 Teen Drama: Keinginan 5:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 6:05 Documentary: Rona Nusantara 6:15 Sports 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 TV Drama: Terpaksa 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Literature Program: Dunia Buku 8:30 News: Laporan Peristiwa 9:00 World News 9:35 TV Drama: Legenda 10:30 Late News 10:40 TV...
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Slaps on wrist for RI, Thailand in Tiger Cup
Slaps on wrist for RI, Thailand in Tiger Cup HANOI (Agencies): Southeast Asia's largest soccer tournament will continue in spite of the embarrassing match between Thailand and Indonesia in which both teams tried to lose, it was learned Tuesday.
Wed, 02 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Food shortages loom in several far-flung regions
Food shortages loom in several far-flung regions JAKARTA (JP): Food shortages are threatening thousands of West Java and East Kalimantan residents following failed harvests in the two provinces and the soaring price of rice, reports said Tuesday. About 1,800 people in Subang regency, West Java, have already felt the pinch of rice shortages, but 84,000 more in the neighboring regency of Purwakarta may soon experience the same fate, Antara news agency said.