Archive: 21 September 1998
46 articles found
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
MITI helps SE Asian firms
MITI helps SE Asian firms TOKYO (Bloomberg): Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry will extend low-interest loans to units of Japanese companies operating in Southeast Asia to help revitalize the region's economies, Daily Yomiuri reported Sunday, citing ministry sources. MITI Minister Kaoru Yosano will propose the plan to leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore during his trip to the region starting today.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
More parties demand fairer election rules
More parties demand fairer election rules JAKARTA (JP): More political parties have called for equal chances to contest next May's general election.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Housewife found dead in Cikarang
Housewife found dead in Cikarang JAKARTA (JP): A 25-year-old housewife was found dead in her house made out of bamboo matting in Cikarang, Bekasi, on Saturday hanging from a curtain. Her husband, Endang, 28, a secondhand goods peddler, was away in Depok earning money for his one-child family when the body of Esih binti Lamri was found by one of their neighbors at 7 a.m.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gas leak investigated
Gas leak investigated PADANG, West Sumatra: Sawahlunto regency has formed a fact- finding team to check into reports of methane leakage from illegal mines here. Iwan Setiawan, general manager of PT Bukit Asam Unit Pertambangan Ombilin, said methane emissions from a number of illegal mines had reached above 10 percent, a critical level, Antara reported on Saturday. Hundreds of miners have been evacuated since Wednesday, he said, explaining that an explosion could destroy the nearby town.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Art summit schedule of performances
Art summit schedule of performances Sept. 21-22: Music, Alvin Lucier (USA), Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ), Jl. Pos No. 2, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3441892). Sept. 22-23: Theater, Suku Naga (Dragon Tribe), Bengkel Teater Rendra (Indonesia), Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3154087). Sept. 25-26: Theater, Wedding in the Field Yukio Waguri (Japan), TIM. Sept. 26-27: Music, Tony Prabowo (Indonesia), GKJ. Oct. 1-2: Ballet, Also Egmont, Bitte.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Singapore Malays defend Lee
Singapore Malays defend Lee SINGAPORE (AP): Ethnic Malay leaders in Singapore came to the defense of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose memoirs have been criticized in Malaysia as poisonous and racist, a newspaper reported on Sunday. The Singapore Story by Senior Minister Lee, which went on sale last week, describes how Singapore and Malaysia merged in 1963 after independence from Britain.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
City urged to revoke levy on indoor ads
City urged to revoke levy on indoor ads JAKARTA (JP): Operators of major shopping centers in Greater Jakarta urged the city administration on Saturday to abolish a levy on advertisement billboards and banners inside their premises.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Investigators still absent at Cendana, only flowers arrive
Investigators still absent at Cendana, only flowers arrive JAKARTA (JP): As of Sunday there were no signs that the Attorney General-led team investigating the wealth of former president Soeharto had met him at his residence. Soeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta was quiet and "no entry" signs were posted at both ends of the street, Antara reported.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:35 TV Series: The Big Valley 3:05 Management Program: Kiat Manajemen 3:30 TV Drama: Badai pun Berlalu 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Kita 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:30 Education Quiz: Tangkas Cermat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Documentary: Rona Nusantara 6:15 Sports: Monitor Olah Raga 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Teen Quiz: Gita Remaja 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Variety Show 8:30 Religious Teachings: Buddha...
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
ABRI members clean up rivers
ABRI members clean up rivers JAKARTA (JP): About 500 members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) were set to work cleaning up Apuran river in the Cengkareng Timur sub-district of West Jakarta on Sunday. They were deployed to assist measures which the city is taking to prepare for above average rainfall which has been forecast to bring flooding to the capital over the coming months.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
RP banks stable amid crisis
RP banks stable amid crisis MANILA (Reuters): Philippine commercial banks performed moderately well as of the second quarter ended June despite the lingering financial crisis, the central bank said. The central bank said in a statement Sunday the capital ratio of local commercial banks in the second quarter outperformed their counterparts in Asia, standing at 17.05 percent against the previous quarter's 16.83 percent.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Elizabeth II visits KL during political storm
Elizabeth II visits KL during political storm KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A white-gloved Queen Elizabeth II attended a church service at Freedom Square on her first stop in this former British colony roiling with a sordid political drama. Just after the queen settled into the front pew at nearby St.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
European Union has no plans to amend cotton dumping proposal
European Union has no plans to amend cotton dumping proposal BRUSSELS (Reuters): The European Commission has no plans to amend its proposal for dumping duties on unbleached cotton imports, despite opposition from a majority of European Union governments, a Commission spokesman said on Friday. The Commission, the EU's executive body, called in July for five-year anti-dumping duties averaging 12 percent on imports of unbleached cotton fabrics from China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
RP exerting all to save PAL
RP exerting all to save PAL MANILA (Reuters): The Philippine government said on Sunday it was exerting all efforts to save Philippines Airlines (PAL) which has announced it will close shop next week. "With two days to go before Philippine Airlines closes down, President Joseph Estrada is still trying to get the airline's management and labor to agree to a settlement that can keep the airline on air," the presidential palace said.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia and Russia in Paris Club talks this week
Indonesia and Russia in Paris Club talks this week PARIS (Reuters): Two of the world's most embattled economies hold talks with the Paris Club of creditor nations this week as Indonesia seeks a rescheduling of debt payments and Russia comes to explain why its own payments are running late. Indonesia is seeking a rescheduling of payments falling due on its estimated US$54 billion sovereign debt as part of a bail-out package worked out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) two months ago.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ethnic Chinese and amoral acts
Ethnic Chinese and amoral acts In response to Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's letter of Sept. 17, I venture to say that most Chinese-Indonesians hate and condemn the individuals, especially ethnic Chinese, who smuggle rice and commit other amoral acts, such as bankers pillaging banks. In past times, Chinese-Indonesians gave the impression of passivism with regard to such cases because they were conditioned to believe that "silence is golden".
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Economy may improve soon: Syahril
Economy may improve soon: Syahril YOGYAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Syahril Sabirin has expressed optimism that the economy will improve within the next two to three months if "non-economic factors" in the country stabilize. "If conditions stabilize, I would expect interest rates to be cut and the rupiah to strengthen to between 6,000 and 7,000 per U.S. dollar," Syahril told reporters at a seminar here on Saturday. The rupiah closed at 11,200 against the U.S.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Deciding by ballot
Deciding by ballot The recent decision taken by a vote in the House of Representatives was a new and refreshing development. The House plenary session failed to reach a unanimous decision because the United Development Party (PPP) faction insisted on proposing former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad as a candidate for the position of chairman of the State Audit Board.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Playing with politics
Playing with politics It is certainly a relief to learn that the government has finally presented the drafts on political laws -- which many hope will provide the foundations of our democracy -- to the House of Representatives (DPR). The bills, on political parties, general elections, the composition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the House of Representatives (DPR) and the first and second level regional legislative councils (DPRDs), were submitted on Thursday.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Brunei must help Asia: New crown prince
Brunei must help Asia: New crown prince BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters): The newly proclaimed crown prince of Brunei said the oil-rich sultanate must help Asia out in its economic turmoil. "We have to help as best we can with what limited resources we can," said Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, in line to be the 30th Bolkiah sultan of this tiny rain forest kingdom with vast reserves of oil and gas. "The economic landscape of the region has changed.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: Teater Tari Masa Kini - 30 Tahun Sejarah Tari Jerman, at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Pos No. 2, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3441892), 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 22, 25, 26, and Oct. 1-2. * Photo Exhibition: Peserta Workshop '97 GFJA, at Galeri Fotojurnalistik Antara, Jl. Antara No. 59 Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3458771), 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., until Sept.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Customers still complaining over PDAM water services
Customers still complaining over PDAM water services JAKARTA (JP): Although the management of tap water supply in the capital has been handed over to joint venture companies, many Jakartans are complaining about the same old things: poor water quality, leaking pipes and erratic billing.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest Anwar after major protest
Police arrest Anwar after major protest KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian police arrested sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, hours after he led tens of thousands of protesters through the streets of the capital calling on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to resign. Armed police broke down the front door of Anwar's suburban home and led him to a white police van as about 2,000 supporters still there shouted "Reformasi" (Reform) and "Long Live Anwar".
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Fight against graft 'key to RI recovery'
Fight against graft 'key to RI recovery' JAKARTA (JP): Combating corruption is essential to Indonesia's economic recovery, but the country's anti-corruption efforts can only be effective if they begin with a credible demonstrated commitment at the highest levels of government, according to a senior official of the World Bank.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Market expected to tumble further
Market expected to tumble further JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the local stock market are expected to slip further this week, weighed down by weak sentiment on regional markets and concerns over political and social instability at home, analysts and stock brokers said.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thousands PAN launching in Yogyakarta
Thousands PAN launching in Yogyakarta YOGYAKARTA (JP): About 25,000 people attended a ceremony to launch the National Mandate Party's (PAN) Yogyakarta branch at Kridosono Stadium here on Sunday. Others who could not fit into the stadium held rallies in parts of the city, in many cases causing heavy traffic congestion. On the same day, PAN opened its Central Java provincial branch and Surakarta regency branch in Surakarta, Central Java.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mar'ie the right man for BPK
Mar'ie the right man for BPK I once worked in an auditing office with the government and have knowledge on how the state's various audit institutes operate. They are at provincial level and at ministry level. There are state audit agencies at the central level and in all provinces. They are so numerous that they are often ineffective. The state audit agency (BPK) clearly needs a competent chief.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Labor foundation to hold mass wedding
Labor foundation to hold mass wedding JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Labor Foundation plans to hold a collective wedding ceremony in November to help low-income couples who have postponed their dream wedding due to the crisis. The foundation, claimed to be a nonprofit organization, would require each of the couples, expected to be mostly office boys, cleaning service employees, gardeners and housemaids, to pay Rp 500,000 for the service, chairman Ventje Eduard Torindatu said Saturday.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI still promising for air express firms
RI still promising for air express firms By Sylvia Gratia MN JAKARTA (JP): The world's major air express companies still consider Indonesia a promising market for courier business despite the country's worst ever economic crisis. Mike Fitzpatrick, senior technical advisor at DHL Worldwide Express' Indonesian affiliate PT Birotika Semesta/DHL, said the rupiah's collapse against the U.S. dollar -- the major cause of the economic turmoil -- had encouraged more exports from the country.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Friction in FSPSI mounts as members trade threats
Friction in FSPSI mounts as members trade threats JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing friction in the government-backed Federation of Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI) has escalated with the federation's central board and sectoral unions exchanging threats of sacking. The union was set up in 1973, in a bid to control fierce unions, under the name of the Federation of All Indonesian Workers (FBSI). `Rebels' now say they want to break free from government intervention.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Macroeconomic policy, banking management need reform
Macroeconomic policy, banking management need reform JAKARTA (JP): Laksamana Sukardi obviously does not fit the norm. His priority is not the pursuit of wealth and a high office. He could have stayed in his previous job as managing director of Lippo Bank and moved on to reach the pinnacle of his career in banking.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Removal of sex workers urged
Removal of sex workers urged CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Hundreds of activists from the Indonesian Moslem Student Movement's (PMII) Cilacap branch demanded government action on Thursday to put an end to prostitution here. In a demonstration at the local council, they suggested that local prostitutes, reportedly increasing in number since the closure of an official rehabilitation site in July, be moved to nearby Nusakambangan island, now used to house prisoners.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tropical storm boosts increase in oil prices
Tropical storm boosts increase in oil prices LONDON (AFP): The tropical storm over the Gulf of Mexico gave a badly needed boost to flagging oil prices last week in London, amid growing calls from OPEC for producers to stick to production cuts and force up prices. Brent, the reference North Sea crude, gained almost 10 cents a barrel on the International Petroleum Exchange.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bankers call for delay in liquidity support repayment
Bankers call for delay in liquidity support repayment JAKARTA (JP): The Federation of Indonesian Private Domestic Banks (Perbanas) has urged for the extension of a deadline given to banks recently suspended and nationalized by the government to settle their massive debts to Bank Indonesia, the central bank. Lawyer Rasjim Wiraatmadja said on behalf of the federation on Saturday that it would be impossible for the banks to meet the deadline. "No bank will be able to meet the deadline.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Riot investigation team to provide Wiranto an update
Riot investigation team to provide Wiranto an update JAKARTA (JP): The government-sponsored fact-finding team investigating the May riots is scheduled to brief Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto on Monday on its findings to date. Team chairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that Minister of Justice Muladi and State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah would also attend the closed-door meeting at the justice ministry.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
89,085 students forced to drop out
89,085 students forced to drop out TANGERANG (JP): The number of elementary school pupils forced to drop out of school in Tangerang regency during the 1998/1999 school year rose to at least 89,085 from 84,753 last year, data from the local office of the family planning bureau has revealed.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Inform public of new troop arrivals, says Bishop Belo
Inform public of new troop arrivals, says Bishop Belo DILI, East Timor (JP): Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo has requested that the military practice transparency in the deployment and withdrawal of troops here to avoid distrust among locals.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Campuses still uneasy after May's success
Campuses still uneasy after May's success By Sugito JAKARTA (JP): Exactly four months after students forced president Soeharto to step down, Jakarta's major university campuses remain just as restless, if not more than before, with the country's political and economic situation. The economy continues to deteriorate under the management of President B.J. Habibie, with no signs of the recession bottoming out.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rape pregnancy a touchy subject
Rape pregnancy a touchy subject By R. Diah Imaningrum MALANG, East Java (JP): A Jakarta-based daily wrote "Jakarta is Crying" to describe the mass emotion when the Acan family was the victim of rape and robbery two years ago. But when there was a riot and mass rape last May, the reaction was different. Some were doubtful whether the incident was factual or just a campaign by some non-governmental organizations to discredit the government.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Projects employ over 4,000
Projects employ over 4,000 SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Several labor-intensive projects worth Rp 1.5 billion have put more than 4,000 unemployed people to work in East Kalimantan. Local authorities are overseeing 17 road, farming and irrigation projects in three subdistricts of the provincial capital, Jakiman, the chief of the provincial branch of the manpower ministry said here on Saturday.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Beware of counterfeit printer supplies
Beware of counterfeit printer supplies By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Last week I took my daughter, Irene, to the book exhibition at the sports stadium in Senayan. We had a good time browsing through the books displayed by publishers. As we passed a cafeteria, Irene suggested that we stop for some Teh Botol. "Let's go outside and get it from the hawkers," I said, remembering that we should also now help the needy on the streets more by giving them more business.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
AC Milan clears Capello for Inter
AC Milan clears Capello for Inter MILAN (AFP): AC Milan has cleared the way for top Italian coach Fabio Capello to join city rivals Inter Milan. Capello is still under contract with AC Milan despite being axed as coach last summer after failing to stop the club's dismal run of results. AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is now willing to free him, should Inter Milan decide to sack Gigi Simoni after their poor start to the season.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Privatizing quick quick
Privatizing quick quick I refer to Mr. Seamus McElroy's letter Privatizing slowly- slowly in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 11, 1998. He is right on the mark. Not only is the privatization of state enterprises necessary, it should have begun last October. Permit me to give an example. In July, Brazil privatized its telecommunications company in a no holds barred total sell off in which foreigners were free to buy a 100 percent stake.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
Megawati receives global award from Indian govt
Megawati receives global award from Indian govt JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of a camp of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) not recognized by the government, received the Global Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Promotion of International Understanding on Saturday in Bombay, India. The award, sponsored by Priyadarshni Academy, was presented by India Minister of Home Affairs L.K. Advani.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. composer explores the use of gamelan music
U.S. composer explores the use of gamelan music JAKARTA (JP): He sat in a room recording his voice and playing it back into the room. The playback was recorded by another machine and again the result was played back into the room. He repeated the process again and again until the resonant frequencies of the room reinforced themselves so that any semblance of his speech was destroyed, except its rhythm. We, who are familiar with our room as a place, are rarely aware of its acoustic identity.
Mon, 21 Sep 1998, 00:00 WIB
KDI to take in Bulog stock
KDI to take in Bulog stock JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to hand over 150,000 metric tons of cooking oil currently belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to the Indonesian Distribution Cooperatives (KDI) for distribution throughout the country.