Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 5 October 1999

49 articles found

President Habibie ready for accountability speech

President Habibie ready for accountability speech JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie said on Monday he was confident and fully prepared to deliver his accountability speech to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Oct.14.

Herry Agung wins national drag race

Herry Agung wins national drag race JAKARTA (JP): Local racer Herry Agung upset defending champion Canadian Robert Paul to win on Sunday the fourth leg of the national drag race at the Sentul circuit, near Bogor.

Forex reserves up to $16b

Forex reserves up to $16b JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's net foreign exchange reserves during the fourth week of September increased by US$216.5 million to $16 billion from the level of the previous week, Bank Indonesia reported on Monday.

Parking fee hike effective from January

Parking fee hike effective from January JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is to set a new official parking fee at between Rp 1,000 and Rp 500 for cars and Rp 500 for motorcycles at spaces managed by the city parking management body BP Parkir starting from next year, an official announced on...

Fair competition law must be enacted on time: Official

Fair competition law must be enacted on time: Official JAKARTA (JP): Vice cabinet secretary Erman Rajagukguk has urged the country's next government to implement the antimonopoly and unfair competition law in the first quarter of next year, as scheduled, in order to ensure fair business practices.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 4, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 500 0 0 AHAP Insurance 550 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 250 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 429,000 Alumindo Light...

Violence and money politics

Violence and money politicsFrom NeracaEvery day we read in our press that the reformists' camp is worried that there will be violence and/or money politics during the presidential election in the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

NGOs call on donors to give Indonesia debt relief

NGOs call on donors to give Indonesia debt relief JAKARTA (JP): Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) urged the World Bank and other donor institutions on Monday to reduce Indonesia's sovereign debt by at least 30 percent.

Legal experts urge police to disarm volunteers

Legal experts urge police to disarm volunteers JAKARTA (JP): Legal professionals called on city police on Monday to disarm volunteers who are part of a joint security force safeguarding the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Syarwan Hamid elected to MPR

Syarwan Hamid elected to MPR RIAU: Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid was one of five people elected on Monday by the provincial council who will attend the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) as the Riau Regional Representatives.Syarwan Hamid obtained the highest approval with 32 votes.

Amien Rais' election

Amien Rais' election Tuesday evening's election of the People's Consultative Assembly speaker, broadcast live by a private TV station, gave the impression that democracy in Indonesia has been successfully resuscitated.

E. Timor tragedy plays key role in Portugal poll

E. Timor tragedy plays key role in Portugal pollBy Richard Waddington LISBON (Reuters): If Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres betters his performance of four years ago, and wins an outright parliamentary majority in Sunday's election, he may have the long-suffering people of East Timor to...

Six Indonesian Futures qualifiers move on

Six Indonesian Futures qualifiers move on JAKARTA (JP): Six Indonesian players survived matches on Monday in the second round of the qualifiers for the Indonesia Futures F5 at the Kemayoran tennis complex in Central Jakarta.

N. Korea makes overtures to RP

N. Korea makes overtures to RP MANILA (AFP): North Korea is renewing its bid to establish diplomatic relations with the Philippines, Filipino Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said on Monday.He told reporters he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun at the United Nations last week.

Most East Timor refugees wish to return

Most East Timor refugees wish to return JAKARTA (JP): More than 58 percent of some 250,000 East Timor refugees sheltered in East Nusa Tenggara want to return to their homeland, the government and the United Nations' High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) says.

Mahaka SM eyes top position in western division

Mahaka SM eyes top position in western division SURABAYA (JP): Mahaka Satria Muda were preparing to take command of the western division after it upset Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS) of the eastern division 70-45 in the sixth day of the third series of the A Mild Kobatama national basketball league...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Oct. 4, 1999: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,599.00 7,675.00Australian dollar 1 4,987.98 5,043.24Austrian schilling 1 591.51 597.70Belgian franc 1 201.77 203.88Brunei dollar 1 4,485.30 4,532.84Canadian dollar 1 5,145.

Banten ready to accommodate chemical industry

Banten ready to accommodate chemical industryBy I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): Supported by its ideal topography, West Java's Banten area has many advantages for various giant industries, particularly petrochemical-related factories.

Molotov cocktails hit Australian school

Molotov cocktails hit Australian school JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta police detectives are searching for a dark-colored Panther van, believed to be used by a group of unidentified people who flung two Molotov cocktails into the Australian International School compound in Pejaten, early on Monday...

Industries profit from infrastructure

Industries profit from infrastructure JAKARTA (JP): More infrastructure to support the growing industries in Banten is currently being built. It is the publicly listed industrial estate and housing developer PT Kawasan Industri Jababeka Tbk.

Five dead in RP shipyard blast

Five dead in RP shipyard blast SUBIC, Philippines (AFP): An explosion ripped through a shipyard here on Monday, killing five Filipino workers and causing extensive damage to a drydocked tanker, police said.

Investment banks to oversee BCA IPO

Investment banks to oversee BCA IPO JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) announced on Monday that it had appointed investment banks Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch and local securities firms PT Danareksa Sekuritas and PT Bahana Securities to prepare the initial public...

Detained suspects grilled over Setya's role: Lawyers

Detained suspects grilled over Setya's role: Lawyers JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers representing Rusli Surjadi, one of the suspects in the Rp 546 billion (US$68.25 million) Bank Bali scandal, insisted on Monday that their client be released or at least be granted house-arrest status.

Forestry research projects

Forestry research projects JAKARTA (JP): PT. Wanatani Makmur Sejati, PT. Sarang Sapta Putra and the ministry for forestry and plantation signed agreements on Monday to implement two forestry research and development projects in Kalimantan.

PDI-P's political prowess comes under question

PDI-P's political prowess comes under question JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan) much lauded electoral prowess came into immediate uncertainty on Monday following the defeat of Matori Abdul Djalil as chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Golkar eyes post of House speaker

Golkar eyes post of House speaker JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party is hoping for an exchange of support from its Muslim-based allies to win the House of Representatives (DPR) speaker post up for grabs on Tuesday.

EU, Asian ministers meet against economic backdrop

EU, Asian ministers meet against economic backdropBy Andrew McCathie BERLIN (DPA): European Union and Asian economic ministers are meeting in Berlin next week against the backdrop of an improved economic outlook for both regions.

A good beginning

A good beginning The voting that was done to establish the rules of procedure, elect the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman and set up the Assembly's various working groups was intended to avoid deadlocks which many observers feared would hamper the smooth running of the sessions.

Shy proboscis monkey extremely endangered

Shy proboscis monkey extremely endangeredBy Hasan Zainuddin BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (Antara): The large fair-haired, red-skinned bekantan (proboscis monkey) covered its long nose with its hands when it realized a person was watching it.

Acting speaker was reluctant to lead

Acting speaker was reluctant to leadBy Emmy Fitri JAKARTA (JP): It looked like the most unenviable job available. Presiding over a rambunctious 700-seat Assembly just recently unshackled from years of passivity.

Assembly establishes working committee

Assembly establishes working committee JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) established on Monday a 90-member working committee tasked to prepare amendments to the 1945 Constitution, set procedures for the presidential election and formulate draft decrees on various state affairs.

New government to decide on Telkom-Indosat merger

New government to decide on Telkom-Indosat merger JAKARTA (JP): The decision on whether to merge state telecommunications firms PT Telkom and PT Indosat will be made by the new government, according to Sofyan Djalil, the assistant to the State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises.

Workers continue Medan strike

Workers continue Medan strike MEDAN, North Sumatra: About 1,000 workers from PT Gunung Gahapi Sakti continued their 17-day strike on Monday in a bid for better welfare compensation and the reinstatement of one of their colleagues.

Foreign buyers to Medan

Foreign buyers to Medan JAKARTA (JP): At least 200 foreign buyers will visit the upcoming North Sumatra Export Product Exhibition which will be held at the Tiara Convention Hall in Medan from Oct.25 to 29, a trade official said on Monday.

Firearms in Sudirman incident examined

Firearms in Sudirman incident examined JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Police have checked 374 firearms belonging to the security forces believed to have been used in the fatal shooting of eight people on the night of Sept. 24, an officer said on Monday.Col. Mungkono M.

New council chief installed in Bogor

New council chief installed in Bogor BOGOR (JP): Mochamad Sahid of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was elected on Monday to chair the Bogor Legislative Council for the 1999-2004 period.

Malaysia palm oil ends up

Malaysia palm oil ends up KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil prices were firmer at Monday's close on shortcovering and technical buying with the market closely watching movements of the Indonesian rupiah currency.

Amex launches Money Plus

Amex launches Money Plus JAKARTA (JP): American Express Bank launched on Monday its new product called the Money Plus (Money+) account, which is a time deposit tailored to be a personal investment tool.

Worm breeding inspires crisis-hit economy

Worm breeding inspires crisis-hit economyBy Mehru Jaffer CIPANAS, West Java (JP): Do not laugh if you hear about a man who earns his living raising worms. Vermiculture, the science of breeding earthworms, is wriggling its way into more hearts than one, especially after the onset of the economic...

Scapegoating in the New Order

Scapegoating in the New OrderBy Tjipta Lesmana JAKARTA (JP): The origin of the term scapegoat, according to Gordon W. Allport, might be found in the Book of Leviticus (16:20-22). On the Day of Atonement a live goat was chosen to be sacrificed.

Military must hand over civilian posts

Military must hand over civilian posts As Indonesians we used to say saudara (brother) to address our fellow countrymen. The late president Sukarno frequently used it to address an audience. It implies closeness. To him, Javanese, Sundanese, Ambonese, Manadonese, Chinese, Bataks, etc.

Small arms proliferation in Southeast Asia

Small arms proliferation in Southeast AsiaBy Santo Darmosumarto JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Asia began experiencing the impact of small arms proliferation as early as 1975 with the end of the Vietnam War. The movement of these weapons into and out of the region, predominantly through illegal channels...

IMF to meet with government in Jakarta next week

IMF to meet with government in Jakarta next week JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund reasserted its demand on Monday for the full disclosure of the results of the investigations into the Bank Bali scandal but said it would nevertheless hold technical discussions with government and...

Humiliation looms as UN inquiry begins

Humiliation looms as UN inquiry begins The United Nations is dispatching this week its first human rights experts to East Timor. Lawyer and human rights activist T. Mulya Lubis says the move will have profound consequences for Indonesia.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Two Hours Only 7:00 TNI's Day Commemoration (live) 9:00 Music 10:30 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 TV Series: Amazing 3:00 Music 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Management Program 5:00 Documentary 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00...

TNI suspects snipers behind Ambon killings

TNI suspects snipers behind Ambon killings AMBON, Maluku (JP): A military officer said on Monday he suspected trained snipers were behind the fatalities in the latest communal clashes in Batumerah subdistrict here.

Banyumas officials go back to school

Banyumas officials go back to school PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A senior regency official here has drawn attention to the fact that only 10 percent of the 4,366 officials working at the Banyumas administration have been educated beyond high school.

Asian currencies climb, with strong rupiah leading the way

Asian currencies climb, with strong rupiah leading the way SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies are stronger against the U.S. dollar in late trading Monday with a surprisingly strong Indonesian rupiah leading the way, following the weekend election of reformist Amien Rais as the speaker of the...

Anwar accuses Mahathir of lying

Anwar accuses Mahathir of lying KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim insisted on Monday he had declared his assets while in office and accused Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of lying about the issue.