Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 30 January 1999

55 articles found

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999Exhibitions * World Press Photo Exhibition, at Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5252321), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., until Feb. 11.

Malaysia shelves toll roads

Malaysia shelves toll roads KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian government is to defer 20 privatized highway projects following criticism of recent toll increases, Works Minister S. Samy Vellu was reported as saying Friday.

Local financial market gains ground as stocks rise 1.1%

Local financial market gains ground as stocks rise 1.1% JAKARTA (JP): The country's financial market gained footing on Friday with the rupiah moving to 9,025 against the U.S. dollar as stock prices rose by 1.1 percent.

Police looking into phone lottery scam

Police looking into phone lottery scam JAKARTA (JP): Police have managed to identify several con artists specializing in deceiving people over the telephone by telling them they have won a Kijang van in a lottery, an officer said.

BI Governor defends bank program

BI Governor defends bank program JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said on Friday that the decision to include the privately-run Lippo Bank among the first 12 banks to receive government recapitalization funds had nothing to do with nepotism but was based on the bank's ability...

PT Agro Indomas gets $25m loan from foreign banks

PT Agro Indomas gets $25m loan from foreign banks JAKARTA (JP): PT Agro Indomas, an Indonesian-Malaysian oil palm plantation joint venture with a Central Kalimantan concession, signed a loan agreement of US$25.2 million with two foreign banks on Friday.

City allows commercial banners in some sites

City allows commercial banners in some sites JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has decided to allow advertisers to post commercial banners in certain locations in a bid to put banner displays in order, an official said on Thursday.

Govt tells Timor to pay dues or face liquidation

Govt tells Timor to pay dues or face liquidation JAKARTA (JP): The government has sent a stern letter to the controversial car company PT Timor Putra Nasional, warning it to settle Rp 3.09 trillion (US$343 million) in backdated import duties immediately or face liquidation.

Indonesian visitor arrivals down 21 percent last year

Indonesian visitor arrivals down 21 percent last year SINGAPORE (Agencies): Visitor arrivals to impoverished Indonesia fell 21 percent last year in the midst of economic and political crisis, and the government is trying to rescue a tourism industry that used to provide one out of every 12.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 29, 1999: ------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 375 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0...

Four soldiers facing 28 years imprisonment for battery

Four soldiers facing 28 years imprisonment for battery BANDA ACEH (JP): A military prosecutor has demanded seven years imprisonment and dismissal from the Armed Forces (ABRI) for four soldiers accused of battery leading to the deaths of four civilian detainees.Prosecutor Lt. Col.

Naval academy will teach rights lessons

Naval academy will teach rights lessons SURABAYA: Governor of the Indonesian Naval Academy Commodore Frits A.C. Mantiri said human rights issues would be included in the academy's curriculum."We hope that human rights and democratization courses will be included in the academy's curriculum," he...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Jan. 29, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,925.00 9,075.00 8,925.00 9,125.00 Australian dollar 1 5,505.60 5,737.70 5,520.00 5,820.00 Austrian schilling 1 739.40 755.63 - - Belgian franc 1 252.

Mixed reactions greet new stance on E. Timor

Mixed reactions greet new stance on E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): The bombshell announcement that Indonesia is willing to grant independence to East Timor in 2000 has drawn reaction from both home and abroad, while fears of further unrest in the province have escalated.

Pregnant Yayuk withdraws from Federation Cup competition

Pregnant Yayuk withdraws from Federation Cup competition JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's tennis queen Yayuk Basuki has quit from the country's team for next month's Federation Cup Zone Asia Oceania competition due to pregnancy.

Philippine economy shrinks

Philippine economy shrinks MANILA (DPA): The Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 1.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 1998 due to a slump in agricultural production, which was ravaged by droughts and floods, a top official said Friday.

Moerdiono questioned over Tommy's project

Moerdiono questioned over Tommy's project JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office grilled former minister/state secretary Moerdiono for more than two hours on Friday over a questionable Rp 52.5 billion land deal in Jakarta involving the youngest son of former president Soeharto, Hutomo Mandala...

Attorney General arms his staff with rattan sticks

Attorney General arms his staff with rattan sticks JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib presented hundreds of his staff with rattan sticks on Friday saying they were needed to fend off "radical groups" who might stage protests at his office."This is not aimed at provoking tension.

17,000 civilian guards assigned to help police

17,000 civilian guards assigned to help police JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has assigned 17,000 members of the Civilian Defense Unit (Hansip) to help city police maintain security ahead of the general election scheduled for June.

Ciledug Plaza traders seek relief after building collapse

Ciledug Plaza traders seek relief after building collapse TANGERANG (JP): Three hundred small-traders of the riot-hit Ciledug Plaza shopping center are seeking soft loans and new sites to rebuild their businesses after losing their kiosks and merchandise when the damaged building collapsed last...

Repent now, Soeharto

Repent now, Soeharto I agree with Amien Rais' statement that former president Soeharto should ask for forgiveness from the Indonesian people for all he did during his 32-year tenure. In this way, politically, Soeharto would not have to face trial.However, asking for forgiveness will not be enough.

S. Sulawesi floods destroy 800 houses

S. Sulawesi floods destroy 800 houses JAKARTA (JP): Reports of flooding around the country continued to pour in on Friday, with damage expected to run into billions of rupiah.At least 800 houses have been inundated since Wednesday and thousands of hectares of crops and shrimp ponds destroyed by...

Ristia divests ownership

Ristia divests ownership JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Ristia Bintang Mahkota Sejati said Friday that its subsidiary PT Ciptjaya Kontrindoreksa plans to offer shares to the public.The company said in a statement that the proceeds from the public offering would be used to repay its debts and...

Maid unwilling to return to chaotic Jakarta

Maid unwilling to return to chaotic JakartaBy Juliane Gunardono JAKARTA (JP): Dirty plates, cups and pans fill the kitchen and dirty clothes are piled in front of the washing machine waiting to be cleaned.

Save Lake Toba

Save Lake TobaFrom MerdekaBonapasogit Communication Forum in Jakarta urges the government and appeals to all parties concerned to give serious attention to the condition of Lake Toba in North Sumatra.Of late, the lake's condition has gone from bad to worse.

Argo starts gas exploration

Argo starts gas exploration JAKARTA (JP): Oil and gas company PT Argo Bomberay Inc., a production sharing contractor of state oil and gas company Pertamina, plans to explore for natural gas in Bomberay, Kokas, Irian Jaya, an official said on Friday.

Irianese leaders decry Freeport expansion plan

Irianese leaders decry Freeport expansion plan JAKARTA (JP): Irianese leaders, rebuking President B.J. Habibie for supporting the expansion plan of mining company PT Freeport Indonesia, demanded on Friday their people have a say in the process of licensing the development."The government is crazy.

Students prepare for new campaign

Students prepare for new campaign JAKARTA (JP): A union of dozens of student groups said on Friday that they would appeal to the general public to join in their demands for a transitional government, which they hoped would transform the nation into a "New Indonesia".

Monas park undergoes second stage of face-lift

Monas park undergoes second stage of face-lift JAKARTA (JP): The city administration next week begin the second stage of the National Monument (Monas) park facelift project, with an estimated cost of about Rp 3 billion, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said.

North Sulawesi allocates Rp 237b

North Sulawesi allocates Rp 237b MANADO, North Sulawesi: The North Sulawesi administration has allocated Rp 237 billion (US$26 million) for its social safety net program, Governor E.E. Mangindaan said on Wednesday.

Unrests linked to foreign interference

Unrests linked to foreign interferenceBy M.M.I. Ahyani BANDUNG (JP): Historian Ahmad Mansur Suryanegara, who lectures in the School of Letters at Padjadjaran University here, sees links between recent outbreaks of unrest in Indonesia with the reform movement and the meddling of other countries,...

Indofood, former executives sued for unfair transactions

Indofood, former executives sued for unfair transactions JAKARTA (JP): The former owner of a company that later grew to become PT Indofood Sukses Makmur is to sue the largest noodle producer and its former executives for over Rp 620 billion for unfair business transactions occurring in the...

ADB aid to be used to resettle villagers

ADB aid to be used to resettle villagers PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Central Sulawesi provincial administration in the 1999/2000 budget year will receive aid worth some US$3 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Antara reported.

Bandits pull off daylight robbery

Bandits pull off daylight robbery JAKARTA (JP): A group of five armed robbers broke into a South Jakarta house in broad daylight on Friday and made off with Rp 80 million in cash, four cellular phones and jewelry worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Road rage result of reckless driving

Road rage result of reckless driving JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's hectic traffic has been known to easily spark anger among motorists, most of whom apparently know very little about driving etiquette.Although those with their own cars are rarely more disciplined than other road users, many people...

Govt cuts CPO taxes to 40%

Govt cuts CPO taxes to 40% JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Friday a reduction in export taxes on crude palm oil (CPO) and some of its by- products to as much as 40 percent starting Feb. 1 in a bid to boost exports and farmers' incomes.

Robber to sue police over shooting

Robber to sue police over shooting JAKARTA (JP): A 19-year-old suspected street robber is to sue Central Jakarta Police for allegedly shooting him in the left thigh without first firing warning shots.Speaking after a hearing in his trial on Friday, the defendant, Hariyanto, said that he planned to...

Live TV shows

Live TV shows JAKARTA (JP): The following are sports competitions to be broadcast live this weekend on local TVs (all times in West Indonesia Time):Saturday: English soccer league: Newcastle v Aston Villa, SCTV at 10 p.m.Sunday: Italian soccer league: Bari v Lazio, RCTI at 8:30 p.m.

Asian stock markets end mixed at end of a rollercoaster week

Asian stock markets end mixed at end of a rollercoaster week SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian stock markets ended mixed Friday at the end of a rollercoaster week, with improved sentiment due to an overnight rise on Wall Street offset by lingering domestic worries, dealers said.Hong Kong closed up 1.

Estrada rejects clemency appeal

Estrada rejects clemency appeal MANILA (AP): President Joseph Estrada said on Friday he will not grant clemency to a child rapist scheduled to become the first criminal executed in the Philippines in 23 years.

Victory for the status quo

Victory for the status quo The deliberations in the House of Representatives on the three political bills passed into law on Thursday followed a familiar but disturbing pattern. The two dominant factions in the House -- Golkar and the Armed Forces (ABRI) -- flexed their muscles to impose their...

Head of major Vietnam coy held

Head of major Vietnam coy held HANOI (AFP): The director of a major petrol trading company in southern Vietnam has been arrested in connection with one of the country's biggest corruption scandals, a report said on Friday.

Reform the banks or perish

Reform the banks or perishBy Eddy Soeparno JAKARTA (JP): Developments in the past few months indicate that despite a stronger rupiah exchange rate and lower inflation, the economy continues to remain dormant as a result of a banking system that is rotten to the core.

Calls to amend political laws

Calls to amend political laws JAKARTA (JP): Many of the political parties which were not represented in the House of Representatives gave the thumbs down to the three new pieces of political legislation on Friday, but none of them talked about boycotting the elections slated for June.

Govt forming team a select parties

Govt forming team a select parties JAKARTA (JP): The government is setting up a team of 11 people to select political parties eligible to contest the June 7 general election.Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said the team would be independent and its members, which were to be announced in the...

Phone rates to rise by 28% on Monday

Phone rates to rise by 28% on Monday JAKARTA (JP): The government will raise the rates of domestic long-distance and intracity telephone calls by as much as 28 percent to offset increasing operating costs, an official at the Ministry of Communications said.

Feed the people

Feed the peopleFrom DRAs I happen to know about the program for provision of food and economic restoration -- conducted by the research and development division of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Perjuangan and chaired by Mr. Kwik Kian Gie -- I would like to appeal that it can be realized.

Analysts welcome new Astra debt initiative

Analysts welcome new Astra debt initiative JAKARTA (JP): Securities analysts have welcomed PT Astra International's new attempt to buy back part of its debts but were surprised at the offering price proposed by the country's largest automaker to its creditors.

Malaysia keeps markets guessing

Malaysia keeps markets guessingBy Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is on the verge of easing five-month-old capital controls, but financial markets are still guessing what form the new measures will take.

Motorist robbed of Rp 39 million

Motorist robbed of Rp 39 million JAKARTA (JP): A Bekasi businessman driving alone in his Kijang van with Rp 39 million in cash strapped to his body experienced his nightmare this year when a group of seven men stopped his car and forced him to hand over all his money.

Police have yet to capture Ambon riot masterminds

Police have yet to capture Ambon riot masterminds JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi admitted on Friday that the police have not yet been able to apprehend the alleged masterminds or instigators of the recent communal clashes in Ambon, Maluku.

Time to take sides

Time to take sidesFrom Sinar PagiMinister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto says group interests have become increasingly apparent and are infringing upon national interests.The dynamics of reform are characterized by attitudes of aggressiveness, hate and calumny.

Leo to sing the songs of 'krismon'

Leo to sing the songs of 'krismon' JAKARTA (JP): Renowned musician and folk singer Leo Kristi will tackle the crisis in song at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on Saturday and Sunday.The concert, titled Naga Banda, is named after one of his new songs.

Indonesia's own Fawlty Towers?

Indonesia's own Fawlty Towers? The Kartika Graha Hotel in Malang must rate as Indonesia's Fawlty Towers. My wife, child and I stayed in this hotel over the Lebaran holiday to see relatives, friends and so on. We did not expect the "service" that we received from the hotel.

Most Asian monies up against dollar

Most Asian monies up against dollar SINGAPORE (AFP): Most Asian currencies ended higher against the U.S. dollar in quiet trade Friday despite the fall of the Japanese yen.The Indonesian rupiah briefly rose to 8,000 levels against the dollar as investors unwound long positions on the greenback but...